Abstract:
For some embodiments, a leash includes a primary loop and a secondary loop. The primary loop may be used to grasp the leash. The secondary loop may be used to enable strengthening the grasp of the leash. The secondary loop may be smaller than the first loop.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    Embodiments of the invention relate generally to methods and apparatus to hold or grasp an object, and more specifically but not limited to grasping leash to secure animals. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]      FIG. 1A  is a diagram illustrating an example of a traditional leash that may be used to maintain movement control of an animal. Generally, a leash may be used to restrain an animal from wandering too far away from a leash holder that the animal is accompanying. In the current example, the animal is a dog  125  but other animals may also apply. The leash holder  105  may hold leash  110  by grasping a loop  115  at one end of the leash  110 . Typically, the loop  115  is formed by bending the end of the leash  110  and attaching the end to a section of the leash  110 . At the other end of the leash  110  may be a releasable latch or connecting device  112  which may enable the leash to be attached to an animal collar  120 . The animal collar  120  may then be wrapped loosely around the neck of the dog  125 . 
         [0003]    One common problem with animals is that they generally tend to be easily distracted. The distraction can be anything including, for example, presence of other nearby animals. When this occurs, the dog  125  may ignore the fact that it is constrained by the leash  110  and may try to force its way toward the direction of the distraction, often with the leash holder  105  trailing behind.  FIG. 1B  illustrated an example of how the leash  110  is held in the hand of a person. Typically, the four fingers other than the thumb are inserted into the loop  115  and form a closed grip around the loop  115  with the thumb and the palm of the hand. In situations when the dog  125  is strong and/or large, the loop  115  may slip from the hand of the leash holder  105 , and the dog  125  may run loose. This can be potentially dangerous since the dog  125  may cause injuries to others. One technique that is commonly used to constrain a distracted or uncooperative dog is to wrap the leash  110  several times around the hand of the leash holder  105  in order to obtain a stronger grasp. However, this technique is not desirable because it requires the leash holder  105  to perform the wrappings quickly against the stretching tension of the leash  110  caused by the dog  125 . 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    In accordance with some embodiments of the invention, there is provided a leash which incorporates a loop into a section of the leash to enable strengthening grasp of the leash. This may enable maintaining movement control of the leashed animal. The loop may have a sufficient size to accommodate a leash holder to insert one or more fingers to strengthen the grasp of the leash. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified. 
           [0006]      FIG. 1A  is a diagram illustrating an example of a leash. 
           [0007]      FIG. 1B  illustrates an example of how a leash is typically used. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  illustrates an example of an improved leash, in accordance with some embodiments. 
           [0009]      FIGS. 3A-3C  illustrate examples of how the improved leash may be used to control an animal, in accordance with some embodiments. 
           [0010]      FIGS. 4A-4B  illustrate examples of an improved leash, in accordance with some embodiments. 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  illustrates another example of an improved leash, in accordance with some embodiments. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    For some embodiments, a leash having a loop to maintain control of an animal is disclosed. The loop may enable a person who is holding one end of the leash to optionally insert one or more fingers to strengthen the grasp of the leash. 
         [0013]    In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth. However, it is understood that embodiments of the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order to not obscure the understanding of this description. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those of ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the invention is defined only by the appended claims. 
         [0014]      FIG. 2  illustrates an example of an improved leash, in accordance with some embodiments. The improved leash may include multiple sections designed to enable a person to grasp the leash and to optionally strengthen the grasp of the leash. Strengthening the grasp of the leash may prevent the leash from being pulled off and away from the hand of the person. In the current example, leash  200  may include a primary loop  205  and a secondary loop  210 . 
         [0015]    As can be seen, the primary loop  205  may be similar to the loop  115  illustrated in  FIGS. 1A and 1B  and may normally be used to grasp the leash  200 . The secondary loop  210  may be positioned approximately adjacent to the primary loop  205  in the direction of collar  215 . The leash  200  may also include extension section  220  that extends from the direction of the primary loop  205  and the secondary loop  210  toward device  225  that may be used to connect to the collar  215 . The device  225  may be a releasable clip, latch, locking device, etc. For some embodiments, the primary loop  205 , the secondary loop  210  and the extension  220  may be manufactured using the same material. For example, the leash  200  may be a flexible line made of nylon or leather. It may be noted when the secondary loop  210  is not used, the secondary loop  210  may be flat. The line may be one half inch wide and may be several feet long. One end of the line may be attached to a releasable latch or clip to be connected to a collar. The other end of the line may be folded over to form the primary loop  205  and then the secondary loop  210 . The formation of the primary loop  205  and the secondary loop  210  may require several sections of the line to be attached together. Different attaching techniques (e.g., sewing, molding, etc.) may be used. 
         [0016]    For some other embodiments, one or more of the primary loop  205 , the secondary loop  210 , and the extension section  220  may be manufactured using different materials. For example, the primary loop  205  may be manufactured using leather, the secondary loop  210  may be manufactured using a metallic material, and the extension section  220  may be manufactured using nylon. 
         [0017]      FIG. 3A  illustrates an example of how an improved leash may be used to control an animal, in accordance with some embodiments. In certain situations, grasping a leash using the primary loop by itself may not be sufficient. When this occurs, it may be advantageous to grasp the leash using both the primary loop and the secondary loop. In the current example, hand  302  may be used to grasp leash  300  which may include a primary loop  310  and a secondary loop  315 . 
         [0018]    For some embodiments, the index finger  304  and the middle finger  305  may be used together with the secondary loop  315  to strengthen the grasp of the leash  300 . This is illustrated in  FIG. 3B . Bending the index finger  304  and the middle finger  305  may form a closed grip of the secondary loop  315  with the palm, while the ring finger  306  and the pinky finger  307  may also follow the index finger  304  and the middle finger  305  toward the palm. Bending the thumb  303  toward the palm may form a more complete closed grip with the palm. 
         [0019]    Although the index finger  304  and the middle finger  305  are used in these examples, it is possible for a person to use a combination of one or more of the index finger  304 , the middle finger  305 , and the ring finger  306 . It may also be possible that the combination of fingers used with the secondary loop may also include the pinky finger  307 , in which case the size of the secondary loop  315  may need to be larger. 
         [0020]      FIGS. 4A-4B  illustrate other examples of an improved leash, in accordance with some embodiments. The secondary loop described in the examples illustrated in  FIG. 2  and  FIGS. 3A-3C  may be in any form as long as they are sufficiently large enough to insert the fingers to strengthen the grasp of the leash. As such, the secondary loop may be in any shape or form. For example, the secondary loop may be oval, circular, square, rectangle, or any geometrical shape that forms a loop. For some embodiments, the secondary loop may not necessarily be a closed loop, as long as it enables the ability to strengthen the grasp of the leash.  FIG. 4A  illustrates an example of a secondary loop that is not a closed loop. As described above, the secondary loop may not be manufactured using the same material as the primary loop or the extension section. For example, the secondary loop may be a metallic circle, as illustrated in  FIG. 4B . 
         [0021]      FIG. 5  illustrates another example of an improved leash, in accordance with some embodiments. The secondary loop may be immediately adjacent to the primary loop. For some embodiments, the secondary loop may be positioned apart from the primary loop. In the current example, the leash  500  may include a primary loop  510 , a secondary loop  505 , the extension section  520 , the connecting device  530 , and the collar  525 . As illustrated, the secondary loop  505  is separated from the primary loop  510  by the intervening section  535 . The intervening section  535  may be short in length. This may enable a person to extend some fingers and be able to quickly insert these fingers into the secondary loop  505 . 
         [0022]    Embodiments of a method for strengthening the grasp of a leash, a strap, or other similar devices are described herein. In the above description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that embodiments of the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring the description. 
         [0023]    The above description of illustrated embodiments of the invention, including what is described in the abstract, is not intended to be exhaustive or to be limitation to the precise forms disclosed. While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the invention are described herein for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize. These modifications can be made to embodiments of the invention in light of the above detailed description. The terms used in the following claims should not be construed to limit the invention to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims. Rather, the scope is to be determined entirely by the following claims, which are to be construed in accordance with established doctrines of claim interpretation.