Abstract:
A leash includes two selectively lockable loops at opposed ends. One loop is adjustable in size to fit about an animal&#39;s neck and includes a sheath for purposes of comfort and for defining the size of the first loop. A second loop is adjustable in size for the hand of a user or for attaching the leash to an anchor point. A sheath extends along the second loop for comfort and for defining the size of the second loop.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application includes subject matter disclosed in and claims priority to a provisional application entitled “Pet Locking Device With Handle” filed Jan. 9, 2012 and assigned Ser. No. 61/584,371 describing an invention made by the present inventor. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to leashes and, more particularly, to leashes having lockable and adjustable loops at opposed ends. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Prior Art 
         [0005]    Conventional leashes for pets include a loop at one end for grasping by a user. The other end of the leash generally includes a clasp of some type for detachable attachment to a ring extending from a collar about the neck of the pet. Sometimes a harness is mounted on the body of the pet and usually includes a ring extending therefrom for attachment to a leash. These leashes are generally of leather or webbing material. Some leashes may also be formed by a cord. For larger animals, the leash is generally formed from a chain; such chains may be of various types and sizes. Some leashes include a handle enclosing a spool for selectively extending and retracting a cord forming the leash. 
         [0006]    While conventional leashes serve the primary purpose of restraining the freedom of a leashed animal, each requires the use of a collar, harness, or the like, mounted upon the animal and to which the leash is attached. Conventional leashes do not provide the ability to secure the leashed animal to an anchor, such as a post, railing, park bench, etc. without tying the free end of the leash about or threaded through such anchor. There is no locking mechanism to lockingly secure the leash to the animal nor to lockingly secure the leash to an anchor and prevent theft of the animal. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention is directed to a leash for an animal, which leash can and does serve several secondary functions apart from tethering an animal to a handheld leash. One end of the leash includes a lockable loop adjustable in size to correspond with the neck of the animal. The other end of the leash also includes a lockable loop adjustable for the hand of a user and lockingly engageable with an anchor to tether the animal in the absence of the user. A sheath extends about each loop for the comfort of the animal and the user. The leash itself is a cable that is not severable by chewing thereon by the animal nor by use of readily available conventional tools. The combination of locks and cable provide security measures to prevent inadvertent loss or theft of a leashed animal. 
         [0008]    It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a leash for an animal having lockable and adjustable loops at each end. 
         [0009]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a sheath enclosing one or both loops of a leash for purposes of comfort. 
         [0010]    Still another object of the present invention is to provide a leash which includes a lockable loop at one end serving as a collar for the leashed animal. 
         [0011]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a leash that may be lockingly secured to an anchor to tether the leashed animal in the absence of a user. 
         [0012]    A further object of the present invention is to provide a leash formed from a cable to prevent severance of the leash by the leashed animal chewing on the leash. 
         [0013]    A still further object of the present invention is to provide a leash formed from a cable to prevent severance of the cable by use of conventional tools and prevent theft of the leashed animal. 
         [0014]    A yet further object of the present invention is to provide a lockable loop for a leash to permit anchoring the leash to a fixed object. 
         [0015]    These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art as the description thereof proceeds. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    The present invention will be described with greater specificity and clarity with reference to the following drawings, in which: 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  illustrates a cable forming a leash and having two lockable loops at respective ends; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a detailed view taken along lines  2 - 2 , as shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  illustrates a lock for locking attachment and detachment of the end of each loop; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  illustrates the rear of each lock mounted on the cable of the leash; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a detail view of the support for the sheath formed at one or both loops. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is illustrated a leash  10  formed from a cable  12 . Preferably, the cable is encased within a plastic covering  14 . A first lock  16 , which may be a combination lock as shown, includes a passageway extending therethrough (not shown) for slidably receiving cable  12 . A first loop  18  extends from lock  16  to terminal end  20 . The terminal end includes a fitting  22  for lockingly engaging lock  16 . A push button  24  on the lock releases fitting  22  when the button is depressed and after the correct combination is entered in the lock. A sheath  26  extends along the cable forming loop  18 . 
         [0023]    A second lock  30  is in slidable engagement with cable  12 . It may be noted that lock  30  is identical with lock  16  and the above description also applies to lock  30 . A second loop  32  extends from lock  30  to terminal end  34 . A fitting  36  extends from the terminal end into locking engagement with lock  30 . Push button  38  on the lock releases the fitting when the push button is depressed and after the correct combination is entered in the lock. A sheath  40  extends along the cable forming loop  32 . 
         [0024]    As particularly shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  5 , the size of each of loops  18 ,  32  may be readily adjusted to fit the neck of the animal to be leashed and the hand of the user using the leash, respectively. A ferrule  50  includes a central passageway  52  for snugly but slidably receiving cable  12 . The ferrule includes an increased diameter collar  54 . As particularly shown in  FIGS. 2 and 5 , cable  12  extends through ferrule  50  and sheath  26 . The sheath is slid onto cylindrical body  56  of ferrule  50  to butt up against collar  54 . A similar arrangement of cable, ferrule and sheath is present at terminal end  20  of loop  18 . By cutting off a length of sheath  26 , the distance between the ferrules at opposite ends of a sheath will be reduced resulting in a reduced size of loop  18 . Thereby, the loop can be adjusted to fit the neck of any animal to be leashed. Loop  32  includes the same arrangement of cable, ferrule and sheath. 
         [0025]    By modifying the length of sheath  40 , the size of loop  32  may be adjusted to fit the requirements of the user holding the leash. It is to be noted that the passageway within each of the first and second locks for housing the cable permits some sliding movement of the cable but there is preferably a degree of friction present to prevent inadvertent and other than forced sliding movement of the cable relative to one or the other of the locks that might increase the size of the respective loop. 
         [0026]    Referring particularly to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the locking and unlocking of each of loops  18  and  32  will be described. While the reference numerals relate to lock  16 , it is to be understood that lock  30  is identical with lock  16 . Fitting  22  at terminal end  20  includes a ring  28 . This ring mates with a prong internally disposed within lock  16  that engages the ring upon insertion of fitting  22  into the lock through opening  60 . Upon depressing push button  24 , the prong disengages from ring  28  and terminal end  20  may be withdrawn from within the lock. Thereby, the leashed animal may be disengaged from the leash. Similarly, depressing push button  38  of lock  30 , terminal end  34  will be released from lock  30 . It is to be noted that each of locks  16  and  30  is a combination lock. Only upon correct alignment of tumblers  62 ,  64 , of combination locks  16 ,  30 , respectively, can the push button be depressed to release the respective fitting. 
         [0027]    Aside from leash  10  serving as a leash for an animal being walked, it has another important function. Loop  32 , see  FIG. 1 , serves primarily as a hand hold for the leash. However, it is capable of serving an additional very important function. When a user walks an animal, such user may, from time to time, wish to enter a store, restaurant, office building, or other facility that does not permit entry of animals. Heretofore, the best such user can do is to tie the leash to some anchor outside of the establishment. While this may restrain the animal, it is very easy for a thief to untie the leash and walk off with or kidnap the animal. When the animal is of show quality, rare or otherwise very emotionally valuable, the loss may be significant coupled with the emotional loss that would be experienced. 
         [0028]    Loop  32  can and does serve as a locking mechanism for securing the leash, and the animal, to a post, railing, park bench, or other fixed object. This is done by dialing in the correct combination and opening loop  32  upon depressing button  38  to release terminal end  34 . The end of the loop may then be passed around the fixed object to which the leash is to be anchored. Thereafter, terminal end  34  is reinserted through opening  60  into locking engagement with lock  30  and rearranging the tumblers of the combination lock. It may be noted that both locks  16  and  30  are combination locks requiring that tumblers  62 ,  64 , respectively, be set to a predetermined code in order to prevent withdrawal of respective terminal ends  20 ,  34  by depressing push buttons  24 ,  38 , respectively. Thereby, not only is it impossible to remove loop  18  from about the neck of the animal and thereby disengage the animal from the leash, but it is also impossible to disengage the leash from an anchor to prevent theft of the animal. Upon return of the user, tumblers  64  of lock  30  are set to the appropriate code to permit button  38  to be depressed. Upon such depression, terminal end  34  may be withdrawn from lock  30  and the loop withdrawn from about the anchor. After such withdrawal, the terminal end may be reinserted within lock  30  to form loop  32 . 
         [0029]    It is to be understood that cable  12  may be sized to accommodate the weight and strength of the animal with which the leash is to be used. Moreover, sheath  26  extending about loop  18  may be of any thickness or cross-sectional physical size as a function of comfort for the animal. For example, an animal having a very heavy coat about its neck may be quite comfortable with a sheath of minimal size and thickness while an animal having essentially very short hair about its neck may be more comfortable with a padded and/or large diameter sheath to prevent chaffing or other discomfort. Similarly, sheath  40  extending about loop  32  may be sized and with a material selected to be most comfortable for a user using the loop as a handle of the leash. It may be noted that except for some longitudinal compression of the sheath for either loop  18  or loop  32 , the length of the respective sheath essentially defines the size of the respective loop.