Abstract:
A pet tether including a ground fixation device; a base attached to a ground fixation device, the base being disposed above the ground, a coupling on the base, the coupling being disposed above the ground, a leash bracket, the leash bracket having a leash attachment and the leash bracket having a handle, the handle being constructed to couple and uncouple with the coupling, a housing attached to the leash bracket; and a light mounted in the housing.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/530,840 filed Dec. 18, 2003. 

   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
   Not Applicable. 
   APPENDIX 
   Not Applicable. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates generally to devices for controlling or handling an animal and, more particularly, to rotatable tether devices. 
   2. Related Art 
   Animal restraint devices are well known and widely used. A simple form of restraint is a leash that can be attached to a collar or harness on the animal. A leash usually includes a handle, a lead, and a clip that attaches to the collar. 
   Oftentimes it is desired to keep an animal tethered to a fixed point with a restraint. For example, in a yard without a fence, it may be desired to tether the animal to keep it from running off the property. Previously, a simple stake or pole in the ground has been used for this purpose. The combination of the restraint and tether provides the animal with some freedom of movement while still keeping the animal within a defined boundary. 
   Rotatable tethering devices are known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,620,506 issued to Stubbs discloses a rotatable animal tethering device. The device includes a flat bed having four legs that are driven into the ground. A center stake is centered in the bed and is also driven into the ground. The upper end of the stake is threaded and receives a collar. The stake also receives a tube and cylinder assembly. The cylinder has a lug to which the tether of the animal may be secured. 
   The device disclosed by Stubbs is not lighted such that passerby may trip on the device. Additionally, the device disclosed by Stubbs does not include a detachable handle. A detachable handle would conveniently allow a user to walk the animal without an additional control harness. 
   Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 6,314,916 issued to Watson, Sr. discloses a rotary tethering system for tethering an animal. The device includes a bar, a detachable above ground shaft portion, and a rotary tethering assembly. The bar is perpendicular to the below ground stake section. The bar supports the upper detachable above ground shaft portion. The rotary tethering assembly is attached to the above ground shaft portion. 
   The Watson device does not include a handle for a user to grasp nor does it include a light. A handle would allow a user to walk the animal without the need for an additional control harness. A light would provide the benefit of illuminating the tether. 
   Thus, there remains a need for a tethering device that is lighted and incorporates a detachable handle. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is in view of the above problems that the present invention was developed. The invention is a tethering device for tethering an animal. The tethering device includes a leash bracket for receiving a leash. The leash bracket rotates about a central axis. The tethering device also includes a housing. The housing is adapted to receive a light. The light illuminates at least the tethering device. 
   The tethering device also includes a handle and a base. The base secures the tethering device to the ground. The handle detachably connects to the base. 
   Further features and advantages of the present invention, as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments of the present invention, are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of the specification, illustrate the embodiments of the present invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the removable lighted rotary tethering device; 
       FIG. 2  is a side view of the removable lighted rotary tethering device; 
       FIG. 3  is a side view of an alternative embodiment; 
       FIG. 4  is a top view of the base; 
       FIG. 5  is a top view of the handle flange; and 
       FIG. 6  is a top view of the bracket. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring to the accompanying drawings in which like reference numbers indicate like elements,  FIG. 1  illustrates a tethering device  10 . The tethering device includes a housing  13 . The housing  13  is made from perforated sheet metal in the depicted embodiment, but other materials may be used. The housing  13  is adapted to receive a light  12 . In the depicted embodiment, the light  12  is a solar-powered rechargeable light as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,041,952, herein incorporated by reference. A leash bracket  17  is operatively connected to the housing  13 . The leash bracket  17  includes a hole  19  for securing a leash (not shown) to the tethering device  10 . A handle  18  is operatively connected to the leash bracket  17 . In the depicted embodiment, the handle  18  includes a soft cushion grip. The tethering device  10  also includes a base  22 . A coupling  20  connects the handle  18  to the base  22 . As an example, in the depicted embodiment the coupling  20  is shown as a receptacle with a through hole and a pin is placed in the through hole to secure the handle  18 . A plurality of stakes  24  is operatively connected to the base  22 . In the depicted embodiment, the base  22  includes a pedestal  23  (best seen in  FIG. 2 ) for each stake. In some embodiments, the pedestal  23  and the stake  24  may have a threaded engagement. For example, each pedestal  23  may include internal threading for receiving a threaded end of a stake  24 . The stakes  24  are for securing the tethering device  10  to the ground (not shown). In the depicted embodiment, the stakes  24  are about nine inches (221 mm) long. 
     FIG. 2  illustrates a side view of the tethering device  10 . The tethering device  10  includes the light  12 . The light  12  includes a lens  16 . The lens  16  reflects light for better illumination. The lens  16  fits within a cylinder wall  14  of the housing  13 . The cylinder wall  14  includes perforations  15 . The perforations allow light rays from the light  12  to pass through the cylinder wall  14 . 
   In the embodiments depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the housing  13  and the leash bracket  17  rotate in unison about a central axis. However, in other embodiments, the housing  13  is stationary and only the leash bracket  17  rotates. Yet in other embodiments, the leash bracket  17  and the handle  18  rotate in unison about a central axis. 
   In  FIG. 3  an alternative embodiment of the invention is shown. Base  122  has spikes  124  attached to it. The spikes or stakes are four in number in the depicted embodiment and mounted to pedestals  123  which are permanently attached to base  122 . The stakes are also shown with anchoring fins  125 . As best seen in the top view of the base  122  in  FIG. 4 , there is a slot  127  and a hole  126  in the base. The slot accommodates insertion of the handle  118 . The thickness of the base  122  closely cooperates with handle flanges  130  and  132 . At least one of the top and bottom handle flanges  130  and  132  includes an extension  133  with a hole  134  therethrough. Pin  140  may be dropped through hole  134  in the flange(s) and hole  126  in the base  122  in order to secure the dog tether to its fixed station, as for example after the dog has been walked. A leashed bracket  117  is mounted at the top of handle  118 . Again there is a light (not shown) in housing  113 . 
   In operation, a user (not shown) connects the stakes  24 ,  124  to the base  22 ,  122 . The base  22  and the stakes  24  are pushed into the ground. The user grasps the handle  18 ,  118  and places an end of the handle  18  into the coupling  20 ,  120 . The user attaches one end of a leash to a collar of an animal. The user attaches the other end of the leash to the leash bracket  17 ,  117 . Thereafter, the animal can move about with limited freedom. Additionally, the user can remove the handle  18  from the coupling  20  to walk with the animal. The user grasps the handle to control the animal while walking. 
   In view of the foregoing, it will be seen that the several advantages of the invention are achieved and attained. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. 
   As various modifications could be made in the constructions and methods herein described and illustrated without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative rather than limiting. For example, while the housing is depicted as rotatable, it may be stationary in some embodiments. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims appended hereto and their equivalents.