Spring clip apparatus

A spring clip device for use with leashes and dog runs to prevent or reduce the likelihood of injury to pets and their owners. The spring clip assembly includes a closable clip member, a swivel portion, a housing, a sleeve member and a resilient member. The closable clip member is adapted to be connected to the collar of the dog or other animal and is pivotally connected to the housing by use of the swivel portion. The resilient member is positioned within the housing and biases the sleeve member within the housing. The sleeve member is adapted to telescope outward from the housing and compress the resilient member in the event that a force greater than biasing force of the resilient member.

BACKGROUND

This disclosure relates to a spring clip apparatus that is designed to provide a degree of shock absorption to prevent injury to dogs and other animals, such as when they are connected to a dog run or yard stake. The spring clip apparatus also reduces the likelihood of injury to the person walking the animal, in the event the animal suddenly accelerates when on a leash.

Various types of snaps are used on dog runs and leashes to allow for quick attachment to the collar of a dog. A typical snap includes a generally closable clip member with a portion of the clip that can be slid rearward to create an opening, allowing for connection to an attachment ring of a dog's collar. The slidable portion of the clip typically includes a spring to bias the slidable portion to a closed position to retain the attachment ring. Snaps of this nature do not include shock absorbing qualities to prevent injury to the animal or person walking it.

In view of the above, it should be appreciated that there is a need for a snap arrangement that limits excessive forces from being exerted, to prevent or reduce the likelihood of injury. The present invention satisfies these and other needs and provides further related advantages.

SUMMARY

The disclosure includes a spring clip device for use with leashes and dog runs to prevent or reduce the likelihood of injury to pets and their owners.

The spring clip assembly includes a closable clip member, a swivel portion, a housing, a sleeve member and a resilient member. The closable clip member is adapted to be connected to the collar of the dog or other animal and is pivotally connected to the housing by use of the swivel portion. The resilient member is positioned within the housing and biases the sleeve member within the housing. The sleeve member is adapted to telescope outward from the housing and compress the resilient member in the event that a force greater than biasing force of the resilient member is exerted on the sleeve.

The spring clip assembly can be connected to the collar of a dog by opening the clip member and attaching the spring clip assembly to the collar attachment ring. The sleeve member, opposite the clip member is adapted to accept cable, rope, chain or other restraining device. The restraining device can be connected to a dog run or a leash handle. Excessive forces applied to the restraining device such as when the dog or other animal exceeds the biasing force of the resilient member causes the sleeve member to compress the biasing member. The compression of the resilient member creates a cushioning or shock absorbing effect preventing or decreasing the likelihood of injury to the dog or the person walking it.

Other features and advantages of the disclosure will be set forth in part in the description which follows and the accompanying drawings, wherein the embodiments of the disclosure are described and shown, and in part will become apparent upon examination of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As illustrated in the drawings, a spring clip assembly10is shown that comprises a closable clip member12, a swivel14, a housing16, a sleeve member18and a resilient member20. Specific details of the individual components will now be described.

As shown in the exemplary drawings, and with particular reference toFIG. 1, the spring clip assembly10is adapted to be releasably connected to the attachment ring of a collar or halter, worn by dogs and other animals. The spring clip assembly10also is adapted to be connected to a flexible lead such as a cable, rope or chain to allow the animal to be walked, or secured in a closed area. The spring clip assembly10is particularly useful with a dog run. A dog run is a ring and cable arrangement set up to allow a dog to run in a backyard. A main cable is positioned between two points above the ground typically suspended by posts. A ring is attached to the main cable and is permitted to move freely across the main cable. A lead line restraint device is attached to the ring at a first end and to the spring clip assembly10at a second end. The dog, once connected to the lead line, can run the length of the main cable between the posts. When the pulley reaches the end of the main cable, travel of the ring abruptly halts preventing further forward movement of the dog. Without absorbing the impact force, injury or death may result. Use of the spring clip device10limits injury to the dog by absorbing shock forces created by the abrupt halting of the forward movement of the dog. The length of the spring and the spring force can be adjusted depending upon the weight of the animal to be secured.

The clip member12of the spring clip assembly10is adapted to be connected to the attachment ring of a dog collar or the halter of another animal. The clip member12is comprised of a slide pin22having a tang24, that allows the slide pin22to be selectively opened, creating a passageway in the clip member12. The passageway formed in the clip member12allows for the ingress and egress of the attachment ring of the dog collar or halter. The slide pin22is positioned within a bore26of the clip member12and is biased to a closed position by an internal spring23. At the end of the clip member12is a shaft portion30provided with an internally threaded opening for receiving a bolt32with a shaft34and a head36, wherein the head36has a diameter greater than that of the shaft34.

The housing16of the spring clip assembly10is pivotally connected to the shaft portion30of the clip member12and contains the resilient member20and a substantial portion of the sleeve member18. The housing16is preferably fabricated from a metal to provide rigidity, strength and longevity. While metal is preferred, other materials, such as plastic, may be used. The housing16includes a first end38and a spaced apart second end40. The first end38of the housing16includes a first aperture42that is adapted to allow the shaft of the bolt32to pass through and pivot. A collar35positioned on the shaft portion30has a larger diameter than the aperture42thereby limiting the axial movement of the bolt32in either direction.

The second end40of the housing16includes a second aperture44that is axially aligned with the first aperture42. The first and second ends38and40are interconnected by a plurality of rib members46that form a cage around the resilient member20and the sleeve member18.FIG. 1illustrates the housing16with a rib member46removed to allow viewing of the resilient member20. While the use of rib members46is set forth herein, this is not to limit other housing configurations that may be used such as an enclosed housing having a cylindrical or rectangular configuration. The rib members46provide rigidity to the housing16and prevent damage to the resilient member20and sleeve member18. The housing16is designed to withstand the impact forces created on the spring clip assembly10by a dog or other animal attached thereto. The rib members46also prevent the resilient member20from snagging on articles of clothing or other objects.

The sleeve member18is adapted to be secured to a cable or lead, in a number of ways known to one of ordinary skill in the art. This could include a cable that is attached to a pet run or a pet “tie out” system or the like. The sleeve member18is comprised of a cylindrical metal tube48that includes an outer diameter50, dimensioned to pass through the second aperture44of the second end40. The sleeve member18further includes a central bore52that is adapted to receive the cable or lead. The sleeve member18includes a first end54and a spaced apart second end56. The first end54is adapted to receive the cable or lead. Alternatively, the first end54could include a fastening arrangement to which the cable, chain lead or rope is secured.

The second end56of the sleeve member18includes a flange55that is adapted to retain the resilient member20with respect to the sleeve member18. While use of a flange55is preferred, other types of retaining devices can be used to retain the resilient member20, such as a cap or nut arrangement. The sleeve member18is adapted to extend outward from the second end40of the housing16. When the sleeve member18experiences zero load from outside forces, a significant portion of the sleeve member18resides within the housing16of the spring clip assembly10. When a load is placed upon the sleeve member18, the sleeve member18slides outward from the housing16until the spring20is fully compressed.

The resilient member20is positioned around the sleeve member18and in the preferred embodiment is in the form of an expanded coil spring. The resilient member20includes a first end58and a spaced apart second end60. The first end58of the resilient member20is positioned adjacent to the flange55of the sleeve member18and the second end is positioned adjacent to the second end40of the housing16. The resilient member20is adapted to be compressed when a force is exerted on the sleeve member18by a cable. The compression of the resilient member20acts to absorb shock received by the sharp tensioning of the cable when pulled upon by a dog or other animal.

In use, the spring clip assembly10is first attached to a cable by inserting the cable through the central bore52of the sleeve member18and securing the cable by knotting the cable at the end, utilizing a locking brad or adhesive.

Once the spring clip assembly10is secured to the cable, the clip member12is attached to the attachment ring of a dog collar by sliding the slide pin22to an open position and inserting the attachment ring into the clip member12. Once the spring clip assembly10is secured to the collar of a dog, the dog can freely move within the confines of the dog run. Use of the spring clip device10limits injury to the dog by absorbing shock forces created by the abrupt halting of the forward movement of the dog. In the event the dog is running and reaches the end of the dog run, the extra force exerted on the cable will pull the sleeve member18of the spring clip assembly10outward from the housing16compressing the resilient member20, thereby absorbing the impact force.

Dual swivel connections are provided in that the clip member12can swivel within the housing16and a sleeve member18can also swivel within the housing.

Various features of the invention have been particularly shown and described in connection with the illustrated embodiment of the invention, however, it must be understood that these particular arrangements merely illustrate, and that the invention is to be given its fullest interpretation within the terms of the appended claims.