Abstract:
The present invention provides a retractable leash and animal restraint assembly. The assembly includes pet collar and a leash. Integral to the pet collar is a cavity and a length of a collar interior, enclosing a leash. A housing may enclose at least a portion of the leash within the cavity. The leash may be extracted from and retracted into the collar by force exerted on a handle at one end of the leash. In another embodiment, a pet harness is disclosed, also having a leash integral to the harness.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application (Attorney&#39;s Ref. P216432) is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/619,968 filed Jan. 4, 2007, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to a retractable leash and animal restraint assembly. More particularly, the present invention relates to a retractable leash and collar assembly. 
         [0003]    Conventional animal restraining assemblies comprise collars and separate, detachable leashes. Oftentimes these assemblies consist of multiple parts that must be assembled prior to use. This can become quite cumbersome when a user is attempting to walk his or her pet and must carry the additional parts, such as the leash, in case necessary. Particularly in cases where a user chooses to utilize such assemblies during exercise, any additional components may make the practice altogether distasteful. 
         [0004]    Even where integrated restraining devices exist, these devices are traditionally uncomfortable for the animal and cumbersome for the user, as they traditionally comprise bulky, heavy components. For example, instead of a user needing to carry the additional apparatus, as described above, the animal is forced to bear the burden. Even where integrated assemblies exist, such devices traditionally lack the strength to fully restrain a large animal, as well as the flexibility to enable a user to easily extract and retract the leash from the restraining component. Further, traditionally even the integrated assemblies require separate pouches or components as part of the assembly, making manufacture of the device unnecessarily expensive. 
         [0005]    A need therefore exists for a retractable leash and restraint assembly having a collar comprising a built-in leash that is not exposed to the elements, which minimizes excess equipment, is comfortable to the animal, is easy to use and to assemble, and that is strong enough to restrain even larger-weight animals. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    The present invention provides a retractable leash and animal restraint assembly. 
         [0007]    In an embodiment, the assembly includes a pet collar and a leash. A portion of the collar comprises an interior including a cavity and having an aperture. A leash housing is present within the cavity of the collar. The leash extends out of the leash housing, into the collar interior and out of the aperture. The leash terminates in a handle which partially extends through the aperture. 
         [0008]    In an embodiment, the leash can be extracted from and retracted into the pet collar. 
         [0009]    In an embodiment, the leash can be extracted from the pet collar by a force generated on the leash handle. 
         [0010]    In another embodiment, the leash is retracted into the pet collar by a recoil mechanism comprising an inwardly biased coiled spring housed within the leash housing, the spring being affixed to an end of the leash for mechanically retracting the leash. 
         [0011]    In an embodiment, the recoil mechanism is not exposed to the elements. 
         [0012]    In an embodiment, the retractable leash and animal restraint assembly is lightweight enough to be positioned anywhere around the animal&#39;s head. 
         [0013]    In an embodiment, the pet collar is made of nylon. 
         [0014]    In an embodiment, the pet collar is adjustable. 
         [0015]    In another embodiment, the pet collar contains an accessory ring. 
         [0016]    In an embodiment, the pet collar is a dog collar. 
         [0017]    In an embodiment, the leash assembly includes a pet harness and a leash within a leash housing. The leash housing is located in a cavity within the interior of the pet harness. The leash extends out of the leash housing, into a portion of the interior having an opening, and terminates in a handle which partially extends through the opening. 
         [0018]    Additional features and advantages of the present invention are described in, and will be apparent from, the following Detailed Description and the figures. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a retractable leash assembly in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a cutaway sectional view of the retractable leash assembly of  FIG. 1  illustrating the inner components of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a side perspective view of the retractable leash assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a top perspective partial view of another embodiment of a retractable leash assembly in accordance with the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0023]    Referring to the Figures generally, a retractable leash assembly is shown. 
         [0024]    As shown in the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the present invention includes a pet collar  10 . The pet collar  10  of the embodiment is generally of a given width. The collar  10  may be of any known material, including nylon, cotton, or the like. The pet collar  10  may be utilized for any type of pet, including but not limited to dogs, cats, ferrets, and the like. 
         [0025]    The pet collar  10  of  FIG. 1  illustrates a dog collar. The collar  10  includes a fastener  12  for easy attachment to and removal from a dog. It will be appreciated that any type of fastener may be utilized, particularly a snap-type fastener such as that shown in  FIG. 1 . Other fasteners may include hook and loop, snap, button and tie-type fasteners (not shown). 
         [0026]    Collar  10  of the Figures may be adjustable to provide a secure fit to the animal. As shown in  FIG. 3 , this feature may be provided by a typical cinch-type  14  adjustment system. The cinch  14  of  FIG. 3  allows the collar  10  to be tightened or loosened around the neck of the animal by sliding the cinch around the length of the collar  10 . In another embodiment (not shown) the collar  10  is made to a predetermined size. 
         [0027]    It will be appreciated that the collar  10  of the present invention may additionally include any number of accessories found useful for such a device. For example, an accessory ring  16  may be present. The accessory ring  16  is useful for any number of purposes including allowing attachment of a second leash, providing for attachment of dog tags or other identification for the animal, or the like. 
         [0028]    As noted above, the collar  10  of the present invention is generally of a given width, however, also present is interior  18  including a cavity  20  and having an aperture  24 . A pouch  25  defines the interior  18 , the cavity  20 , and the aperture  24 . The cavity  20  is integral to the collar  10  and may be of a width substantially greater than the remainder of the collar (see  FIG. 2 ). Cavity  20  is an extension of interior  18 . The pouch  25  houses the leash  42 . Optionally present is a housing  40 , disposed in the pouch at the cavity  20 , serving as an integrated receptacle for carrying the leash  42 . 
         [0029]    Adjacent cavity  20  is interior  18 , and adjacent interior  18  is aperture  24 . Aperture  24  allows leash  42  to travel into and out of the collar  10 . It will be appreciated that aperture  24  may be reinforced by any means including presence of an eyelet (not shown) or other suitable reinforcement apparatus. 
         [0030]    As illustrated by the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , within the cavity  20  optionally resides a leash housing  40 . The leash housing  40  is enclosed by the collar  10  and may be of any known material. In the embodiment shown, the housing  40  is made of a lightweight but sturdy plastic material such as polyethylene terephthalate. In an embodiment, the housing  40  may be of metal material. In an embodiment the housing  40  may be of Cordura® or similar fabric. The housing  40  lodges the leash  42  when it is in a retracted position, as well as the mechanism for retracting the leash  42  (discussed below). Additionally, the housing  40  provides protection of the leash  42  when it is not in use. 
         [0031]    The leash  42  may be of any known material. In an embodiment of the present invention, the leash  42  is made of nylon. In an embodiment, the leash  42  is made of a steel cable. One end of the leash  42  is fixedly attached to the collar  10 . As shown in  FIG. 2  (and as discussed below), this end of the leash  42  may be attached to a coiled spring, to aid in the extraction and retraction of the leash from the collar  10 . The leash  42  may be of any conventional length. In an embodiment, the leash is at least eight feet in length. In an embodiment, the leash is not longer than twelve feet in length. In yet another embodiment, the leash  42  is between three feet and six feet in length. 
         [0032]    The opposite end of the leash is fixedly attached to a handle  50 . The handle  50  may be of any known material, and in the embodiment shown is of the same material as the collar  10 . The handle  50  may take any generally known shape and form as will be appreciated in the art. As shown in FIG.  1 , the handle  50  is sufficiently flexible so as to travel through aperture  24 , at least partially. 
         [0033]    Within the cavity  20  is the mechanism by which the leash  42  is retracted into the collar  10 .  FIG. 2  demonstrates an embodiment whereby the cavity  20  additionally contains a housing  40 , though the housing  40  is optional. More particularly, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the housing  40  lodges an inwardly biased coiled spring  44 . The spring  44  is affixed to one end of the leash  42 , for mechanically retracting the leash. When the leash  42  is extended for use, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the coiled spring  44  expands, generating pressure on the leash  42 . When the leash  42  is released, the spring  44  retracts the leash  42  into the housing  40  (not shown in  FIG. 3 ). In an embodiment, the leash  42  is retracted almost entirely into the collar. In another embodiment, the recoil mechanism is enclosed in webbing, maintaining the leash  42  in a covered state until manually retrieved from the collar. 
         [0034]    Optionally, additionally present is a locking mechanism. In an embodiment, the locking mechanism allows the user to pull the leash  42  out of the collar and lock the leash at a given length so as to prevent the leash  42  from retracting back into the collar  10 , unless desired. The locking mechanism may be of any suitable construction. In an embodiment, the locking mechanism comprises a buckle engagement clip (not shown). In another embodiment, the locking mechanism comprises a catch and release toggle (not shown). In this embodiment, the locking mechanism has a release toggle capable of remaining in different positions. In one position, the toggle is flush with the end of lock, and cannot move. In an embodiment, release toggle is spring loaded so that it always returns to the unlocked position. 
         [0035]    In another embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the assembly comprises a harness  60  as the restraining device. As with the collar  10 , described above, the harness  60  comprises an interior  62  having an aperture  64  and including a cavity  66 . Although the cavity  66  shown in  FIG. 4  is notably wider than the remainder of the harness  60 , this is an optional feature of the device. The harness may be made of any suitable material, in an embodiment the material being nylon. 
         [0036]    It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.