Abstract:
A reconfigurable leash is provided. The reconfigurable leash allows a user to configure the leash in multiple configurations, including hand-free, single animal, double animal, and tether configurations. The leash includes a body having two ends and couplings located at each end. The leash also includes three rings located at three different positions along the length of the body. The leash also includes a moveable pad that wraps around a portion of the body of the leash.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application No. 62/344,788, filed Jun. 2, 2016, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Technical Field 
       [0002]    This disclosure generally relates to animal leashes and more specifically to adjustable dog leashes. 
       Description of the Related Art 
       [0003]    Animal leashes come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Generally, a leash is made from a woven fabric or chain material. A leash generally also includes a handle for a person to hold onto with their hand on one end while the other end is configured to attach to an animal, for example, to a collar or harness on an animal. Such a leash is capable of walking a single dog. 
         [0004]    Some leashes have a single handle that is coupled to independent two pieces of woven fabric or chain material. Each length of woven fabric or chain material may include a coupling or snap for connection to an animal. Such a leash is suitable for walking two dogs. 
         [0005]    Some dog harnesses have a single coupling point, such as a standard dog collar, while some dog harnesses have two coupling points, such as the so-called “no-pull” dog harnesses. 
         [0006]    Some dogs are easily controlled and obedient when walked, while other dogs require much more control and correction to keep them heeled. Some dogs may be easily heeled in some situations while in others they need more control and correction. Easily controlled dogs may be walked with an over-the-shoulder, hands-free leash while they require little to no correction, while at other times the dogs may need the near constant control and correction that a hand leash enables. 
         [0007]    If a person wishes to walk one dog at time and two dogs at other times, or has some animals with a single point harness and other animals with a double point harness, or needs varying amounts of control of the animal in different situations, the person may need to have three, four, or even five leashes to properly handle each situation they and the animal or animals may encounter. 
         [0008]    In some situations they may be out with one type of leash, such as a hand-held leash, and find that circumstances have changed such that they need an over-the-shoulder, hands-free leash, but do not have one on hand. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0009]    According to one embodiment disclosed herein, a reconfigurable leash is provided. The reconfigurable leash allows a user to configure the leash in multiple configurations, including hands-free, single animal, double animal, and tether configurations. The leash includes a body having two ends and couplings located at each end. The leash also includes three rings located at three different positions along the length of the body. The leash also includes a moveable pad that wraps around a portion of the body of the leash. 
         [0010]    According to another embodiment, a method of manufacturing a leash is provided. The method includes affixing a first coupling at a first end of a body of material and affixing a second coupling at a second end of the body of material. The method also includes affixing a first ring to the body of material between the first coupling and the second coupling, affixing a second ring to the body of material between the first ring and the first coupling, and affixing a third ring to the body of material between the first ring and the second coupling. The method also includes forming a moveable pad having a first end, a second, and an aperture extending through the moveable pad between the first end and the second end and passing a portion of the body of the leash through the aperture of the moveable pad. 
         [0011]    According to yet another embodiment, an animal leash is provided. The animal leash includes a first webbing and a second webbing. The first and second webbing being sewn together to form a cord along at least a portion of their respective lengths, the cord having a first end and a second end. The leash also includes a first coupling sewn to the cord at the first end of the cord and a second coupling sewn to the cord at the second end of the cord. The leash also includes a first ring sewn to the cord at a first location between the first end of the cord and the second end of the cord, a portion of the first ring being positioned between the first webbing and the second webbing, a second ring sewn to the cord at a second location between the first end of the cord and the first ring, a portion of the first ring being positioned between the first webbing and the second webbing, and a third ring sewn to the cord at a third location between the second end of the cord and the first ring, a portion of the first ring being positioned between the first webbing and the second webbing. The leash also includes a moveable pad having a first end, a second end, and an aperture extending through the moveable pad between the first end and the second end, a portion of the cord being within the aperture of the moveable pad, the moveable pad being moveable between a first location on the cord and a second location on the cord. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a top view of a leash according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the leash of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the leash of  FIG. 1 , with the handle in a second position. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  shows the leash of  FIG. 1  configured for walking two dogs or for a double harness. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  shows the leash of  FIG. 1  in use in the double harness configuration of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  shows the leash of  FIG. 1  configured for over-the-shoulder use. 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  shows the leash of  FIG. 1  in use in the over-the-shoulder configuration of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  shows the leash of  FIG. 1  configured as a hand-held leash. 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  shows the leash of  FIG. 1  configured as a tether. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]      FIGS. 1 and 2  show an embodiment of an adjustable leash  100  that has a first end  102  configured with a first coupling  110  and a second end  104  configured with a second coupling  150 . Between the first end  102  and the second end  104 , the leash includes a movable pad  160  and multiple rings  120 ,  130 , and  140  at fixed locations along the length of the leash  100 . 
         [0022]    The coupling  110  at the first end  102  of the leash  100  is a push operated swivel snap coupling. In other embodiments, other types of couplings may be used. For example, the coupling  110  may also be a trigger snap, a bolt snap, a spring hook, a lobster claw bolt snap hook, or other types of couplings. The coupling  110  includes a tapered swivel head  114 , also called a semi-square swivel head, configured to be coupled to the body  101  of the leash  100 , sometimes also referred to as the cord. The swivel head  114  is coupled to a hook  112  via a swivel  116 . In some embodiments, the swivel  116  may be omitted. 
         [0023]    The hook  112  includes a gate  118  that is pivotally mounted to the hook  112  via a pin  119 . The hook  112  and gate  118  form an aperture  117  though the body of the hook  112 . In  FIG. 1 , the coupling  110  is shown with the gate  118  and the aperture  117  in a closed position.  FIG. 3  depicts an example of the coupling  110  with the gate  118  and the aperture  117  in an open position. 
         [0024]    The coupling  110 , including the hook  112 , aperture  117 , and gate  118 , is sized and shaped such that the coupling  110  may be coupled to an animal harness, for example, an animal harness  200  of  FIG. 5  or an animal harness  210  of  FIG. 7 , or to the rings  120 ,  130 , and  140 . In addition, the coupling  110 , and in particular its tapered swivel head  114 , is configured such that the coupling  110  may pass though an aperture  134  of the ring  130 , but may not pass through apertures  124 ,  144  of the rings  120 ,  140 . 
         [0025]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the leash  100  includes the moveable pad  160 . The moveable pad  160  may be formed from 3-mil double jersey sided neoprene sewn into a tube shape having an inner aperture  162  that extends along the length of the moveable pad  160 . The moveable pad  160  provides the leash  100  with a comfortable, cushioned handle by which a user may grip the leash  100 . In some embodiments, the moveable pad  160  is a shoulder pad that aids in cushioning the user&#39;s shoulder from the body  101  of the leash  100 , for example, as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . 
         [0026]    The aperture  162  of the moveable pad  160  is sized and shaped such that the moveable pad may slide over the body  101  of the leash  100  and the ring  120 , but resists or is incapable of being slid over the ring  130 .  FIG. 3  shows an embodiment of the leash  100  configured with the moveable pad  160  positioned between the ring  120  and the ring  130 , after the moveable pad  160  has been slid over the ring  120 . 
         [0027]    The ring  120  may be a D-shaped ring, having a straight portion  126  and a rounded portion  128 . Such a ring is commonly referred to as a D-ring. The ring  120  is pivotably secured to the body  101  of the leash  100  by stitching two box-x stitching patterns  105  on either side of the ring  120 . The ring  120 , although substantially affixed to the body  101  of the leash  110  in a fixed location, may pivot about its straight portion  126 . 
         [0028]    The ring  130  may be an O-shaped ring having the shape of an annulus. Such a ring is commonly referred to as an O-ring. The ring  130  is pivotably secured to the body  101  of the leash  100  by stitching two box-x stitching patterns  105  on either side of the ring  130 . The ring  130 , although substantially affixed to the body  101  of the leash  100  in a fixed location, is pivotable. 
         [0029]    The ring  140  may be substantially similar to the ring  120 . The ring  140  may also be a D-shaped ring, having a straight portion  146  and a rounded portion  148 . The ring  140  is also pivotably secured to the body  101  of the leash  100  by stitching two box-x stitching patterns  105  on either side of the ring  140 . The ring  140 , although substantially affixed to the body  101  of the leash  100  in a fixed location, may pivot about its straight portion  146 . 
         [0030]    The coupling  150  at the second end  104  of the leash  100  is a push operated swivel snap coupling. In other embodiments, other types of couplings may be used. For example, the coupling  150  may also be a trigger snap, a bolt snap, a spring hook, a lobster claw bolt snap hook, or other types of couplings. The coupling  150  includes a square swivel head  154  configured to be coupled to the body  101  of the leash  100 . The swivel head  154  is coupled to a hook  152  via a swivel  156 . In some embodiments, the swivel  156  may be omitted. 
         [0031]    The hook  152  includes a gate  158  that is pivotally mounted to the hook  152  via a pin  159 . The hook  152  and gate  158  form an aperture  157  though the body of the hook  152 . 
         [0032]    The coupling  150 , including the hook  152 , aperture  157 , and gate  158 , is sized and shaped such that the coupling  150  may be coupled to an animal harness, for example, the animal harness  200  of  FIG. 5  or the animal harness  210  of  FIG. 7 , or to the rings  120 ,  130 , and  140 . In addition, the coupling  150 , and in particular, the square swivel head  154  is configured such that it may not pass though the apertures  124 ,  134 ,  144  of the rings  120 ,  130 ,  140  or resists being passed through the apertures  124 ,  134 ,  144  of the rings  120 ,  130 ,  140   
         [0033]    By configuring the coupling  110  at one end of the leash  100  such that it may pass through some but not all of the apertures  124 ,  134 ,  144  of the rings  120 ,  130 ,  140 , while configuring the coupling  150  at the other end such that it does not pass through any of the apertures  124 ,  134 ,  144  of the rings  120 ,  130 ,  140 , the leash  100  itself aids in preventing the user from incorrectly configuring the leash, because only one of the couplings  110  may pass through any of the rings  120 ,  130 ,  140 . 
         [0034]    As shown in the side view of the leash  100  in  FIG. 2 , the body  101  of the leash  100  includes two pieces of webbing  172 ,  174  stitched together with stitching  107  (see  FIGS. 1 and 3 ) sewn along the sides of the body  101  of the leash  100 . The couplings  110  and  150  are sewn to the body  101  of the leash  100  by passing a portion of a first of the webbings  172 ,  174  though the swivel heads  114 ,  154  and then folding over about 1 to 1.5 inches of the one of the webbings  172 ,  174 . The other of the webbings  172 ,  174  is then placed over the folded-over portion of the first of the webbings  172 ,  174  and a box-x stitching pattern is sewn through the three layers of webbings  172 ,  174 . 
         [0035]    The leash  100  may be made in many different lengths and widths. For example, the overall length of the leash  100  may be either 7 feet or 8 feet and the width of the body  101  of the leash  100  may be ⅝ inch or ¾ inch. A shorter, thinner leash body  101  is better suited for smaller animals, while a longer, wider leash body  101  may be better suited for larger animals. The construction of both lengths is similar. 
         [0036]    In one embodiment of a 7-foot leash  100 , the coupling  110  may be a ½-inch snap with a round or D-shaped swivel head  114 , ring  120  may be a ⅝-inch D-ring, ring  130  may be a 1-inch O-ring, ring  140  may be a ⅝-inch D-ring, and coupling  150  may be a ⅝-inch snap with a tapered swivel head  154 . 
         [0037]    In one embodiment of an 8-foot leash  100 , the coupling  110  may be a ⅝-inch snap with a tapered swivel head  114 , ring  120  may be a ⅝-inch D-ring, ring  130  may be a 1-inch O-ring, ring  120  may be a ¾-inch D-ring, and coupling  150  may be a ¾-inch snap with a straight swivel head  154 . 
         [0038]    With reference to  FIG. 1 , in manufacturing both the 7-foot and 8-foot embodiments, the ring  120  may be affixed at a location on the body  101  of the leash  100  about 14 inches from the first end  102  of the body  101  of the leash  100 , such that a length A is about 14 inches. The ring  140  may be affixed at a location on the body  101  of the leash  100  of about 17 inches from the second end  104  of the body  101  of the leash  100 , such that a length D is about 17 inches. The ring  130  may be affixed at a location on the body  101  of the leash  100 , between the ring  120  and the ring  140 , about 14.5 inches farther down from the ring  140 , such that a length C is about 14.5 inches. Thus, in an embodiment of a 7-foot leash, a length B is about 3 feet and in an embodiment of an 8-foot leash, the length B is about 4 feet. 
         [0039]    In manufacturing the leash  100 , the first coupling  110  is placed on the second webbing  174  and about 1.25 inches of the end of the second webbing  174  is passed though the swivel head  114  and folded over onto itself. The first webbing  172  is then butted up to the swivel head  114  and covering up the end of the second webbing  174 . A tack-down stitch or box-x stitch  105  may be used to keep the webbing and coupling  110  in place. The sides of the first and second webbing  172 ,  174  are then stitched together from the first end  102  to the location of the ring  120  with stitches  107 . 
         [0040]    The ring  120  is positioned on the first or second webbing  172 ,  174 , and the first and second webbing  172 ,  174  are sewn along their sides down to the position of the ring  130 . The ring  130  is positioned on the first or second webbing  172 ,  174 , and the first and second webbing  172 ,  174  are sewn along their sides down to the position of the ring  140  with stitches  107 . 
         [0041]    The coupling  150  is placed on the first webbing  172  and about 1.25 inches of the end of the first webbing  172  is passed though the swivel head  154  and folded over onto itself. The second webbing  174  is then butted up to the swivel head  154 , covering up the end of the first webbing  172 . The final section of the two pieces of webbing  172 ,  174 , between the ring  140  and the coupling  150 , is then sewn down the sides with stitches  107 . 
         [0042]    A box-x sewing pattern  105  is then stitched in eight places along the leash  100 , at the first end  102  to securely hold the coupling  110 , the second end  104  to securely hold the coupling  150 , and on both sides of the rings  120 ,  130 ,  140  to securely hold the rings  120 ,  130 ,  140  in their respective positions. 
         [0043]    The moveable pad  160  may be formed from 3-mil double sided jersey neoprene. The neoprene may be cut into a rectangle measuring about 2.5 inches by about 13.25 inches. The ends of the neoprene may be sealed with seam sealing tape, such as iron-on neoprene seam sealing tape. The neoprene is then folded over along its 13.25 inch length and the long sides of the neoprene are sewn together, forming a tube. The moveable pad  160  is then turned right-side out. 
         [0044]    The moveable pad  160  is then slipped onto the body  101  of the leash  100  by passing the moveable pad  160  over the coupling  110  until it is positioned between the coupling  110  and the ring  120 . The leash  100  is now ready for use. The length of the moveable pad  160  is less than the length A of the body  101  of the leash  100 . 
         [0045]      FIGS. 4 and 5  show the leash  100  in a double leash or European leash configuration. In this configuration, the moveable pad  160  is moved from being between the coupling  110  and the ring  120  to be between the ring  120  and the ring  130 . The coupling  110  and the ring  120 , along with a portion of the body of the leash are then passed though the aperture  134  of the ring  130 . 
         [0046]    In the double leash configuration, each of the couplings  110 ,  150  may be coupled to the harness or collar of a different animal. In the European leash configuration, each of the couplings  110 ,  150  is coupled to different points on the harness  200  of the same animal, for example, as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0047]      FIGS. 6 and 7  show the leash  100  in an over-the-shoulder configuration. In this configuration, the moveable pad  160  is moved from being between the coupling  110  and the ring  120  to be between the ring  120  and the ring  130 , and the coupling  110  is coupled to the either the ring  130  or the ring  140  forming an aperture  190 . 
         [0048]    In use, for example as shown in  FIG. 7 , one arm and the head of the user is passed though the aperture  190  and the moveable pad  160  rests on the user&#39;s shoulder while the coupling  150  is coupled to the collar or harness  210  of the animal. 
         [0049]      FIG. 8  shows the leash  100  in a hand-held configuration. In this configuration, the moveable pad  160  remains between the coupling  110  and the ring  120 , and the coupling  110  is coupled to the ring  120 . This forms an aperture  195  that is smaller than the aperture  190  and is sized and shaped for being gripped by a user&#39;s hand. 
         [0050]    In use, the user holds onto the leash  100  by gripping the moveable pad  160  and the coupling  150  is coupled to a collar or harness of an animal. 
         [0051]      FIG. 9  shows the leash  100  in a tether configuration. In this configuration, the moveable pad  160  remains between the coupling  110  and the ring  120 , and the coupling  110  is coupled to the ring  140  to form an aperture  197  around a fixed object, for example a fence post, table leg, or another object. 
         [0052]    In use, coupling  110  is coupled to the collar or harness of the animal while the other end of the leash  100 , in particular the aperture  197 , is secured to a fixed object. 
         [0053]    Aspects and features of the various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. These and other changes can be made to the embodiments in light of the above-detailed description. In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the claims to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should be construed to include all possible embodiments along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.