Abstract:
An animal collar with removable and replaceable inserts for custom ornamentation. An animal leash with removable and replaceable inserts for custom ornamentation, allowing for coordination of the leash and collar in some instances. An animal collar with a leash attach point located to allow for display of the collar ornamentation while the animal leashed. A reversible animal collar with ornamentation on both sides of the collar.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     This invention relates to animal leashes and collars, and more specifically to animal leashes and collars incorporating customized inserts.  
         [0003]     2. Description of Related Art  
         [0004]     Animal collars may be used for a variety of purposes. Containment collars are used to help control or restrain an animal. Choke collars, harnesses, pronged chain collars, nylon collars, leather collars and the like are used for containment. Training collars are used to help train an animal and also come in many forms. It is also known to topically or transdermally deliver therapeutic agents via a medicinal collar. Flea and tick collars, and anti-asthma collars are examples of medicinal collars.  
         [0005]     Identification collars for pets have been known for quite some time. Typically, these items take the form of an elongated strap having at least one end provided with a connecting device, such as a belt buckle, snaps, a clasp, or the like, for connecting the two ends of the strap together to form a loop. In use, the loop is formed around the wearer&#39;s neck.  
         [0006]     Pet owners typically place a collar, such as described above, around their pets neck for identification purposes. For example, pet collars are known to carry pre-printed or engraved tags carrying identification information, such as the pets name, the owners contact information, etc.  
         [0007]     Many owners of pets desire to have decorative collars for their dogs. A problem with many decorative collars is that it is necessary to purchase a complete new collar when the color or design becomes aesthetically unattractive or out of style, or when the owner of the dog desires to change to a collar of a different aesthetic appearance. Another problem with many decorative collars is that the attachment point for a leash is on the opposite side of the animal&#39;s neck from the ornamentation. Thus, when a leash is used with the animal, the leash may pull the collar around such that the ornamentation is hidden at the underside of the animal.  
         [0008]     What is called for is an animal collar with a variety of decorative options, including a reversible collar with different displays of ornamentation on each side. What is also called for is a collar and leash set that can be custom decorated with inserts that display information or decoration on both sides of the collar and leash.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0009]     An animal collar with removable and replaceable inserts for custom ornamentation. An animal leash with removable and replaceable inserts for custom ornamentation, allowing for coordination of the leash and collar in some instances. An animal collar with a leash attach point located to allow for display of the collar ornamentation while the animal is leashed. A reversible animal collar with ornamentation on both sides of the collar. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]     FIGS.  1 A-C are sketches illustrating a collar according to some embodiments of the present invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  illustrates an animal wearing a collar according to some embodiments of the present invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  illustrates a side view of an insert according to some embodiments of the present invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  illustrates a cross-sectional view of an insert according to some embodiments of the present invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  illustrates a cross-sectional view of an insert according to some embodiments of the present invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  illustrates a side view of an insert with a leash tab according to some embodiments of the present invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 7  illustrates a leash according to some embodiments of the present invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 8  illustrates a leash according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0018]      FIG. 1A  illustrates an animal collar  100  according to some embodiments of the present invention. An elongated strap  101  has a first end  102  and a second  103 . In some embodiments, the elongated strap  101  is made primarily of leather. In some embodiments, the elongated strap  101  is made primarily of nylon webbing. In some embodiments, the elongated strap  101  is made primarily of other suitable material. A buckle assembly  104  is attached to the elongated strap at the second end  103 . A set of buckle holes  105  may be situated near the first end  102  of the elongated strap  101 . The buckle holes  105  are used in fastening of the buckle assembly  104 , and in so doing form the elongated strap  101  into a loop which may go around an animal&#39;s neck. In some embodiments, different types of buckles or strap fasteners are used. In some embodiments, a buckle is used which may be fastened from either side, to facilitate a reversible aspect of the animal collar  100 .  
         [0019]     A leash ring  108  is attached to the elongated strap  101  using one or more leash ring holders  107  in some embodiments. The leash ring  108  may be attached to the elongated strap  101  at approximately the mid-point of the elongated strap. The leash ring  108  may be attached at the approximate mid-point of a buckled collar in some embodiments. Typically, the leash attached to an animal collar pulls the collar around such that the leash attach point is on the top of the animals neck. With a leash having decorative aspects, this may pull the decorative aspects, which may be predominantly in the middle part of the collar, down and around to the bottom of the animal&#39;s neck and may hide the decorative aspects from view. With a leash attach point near or at the middle portion of the collar, the pull of the leash will not tend to hide the decorative aspects of the collar mounted near the middle of the collar.  
         [0020]     A plurality of inserts  106  are attached into the elongated strap  101  in some embodiments. The inserts  106  may be mounted through holes in the elongated strap  101  in some embodiments. In some embodiments, the decorative studs may have decoration on each side of the collar, allowing for a change of decoration by simply reversing the collar. Thus, with a reversible buckle, the collar may flipped over in order to display a different set of decorations.  
         [0021]      FIGS. 1B and 1C  illustrate an animal collar  150  according to some embodiments of the present invention. An elongated strap  301  has a first end  302  and a second  303 . In some embodiments, the elongated strap  301  is made primarily of leather. In some embodiments, the elongated strap  301  is made primarily of nylon webbing. In some embodiments, the elongated strap  301  is made primarily of other suitable material. A reversible buckle assembly  151  is attached to the elongated strap at the second end  303 . A set of buckle holes  305  may be situated near the first end  302  of the elongated strap  301 . The buckle holes  105  are used in fastening of the reversible buckle assembly  151 , and in so doing form the elongated strap  301  into a loop which may be fastened around an animal&#39;s neck.  
         [0022]     The reversible buckle assembly  152  may have a first part  152  that is fastened to the elongated strap  301  at the second end  303 . A second part  153  of the reversible buckle assembly  151  may be attached to the first part  152  and may rotate at least 180 degrees such that the buckle loop  154  and the buckle stay  155  may fasten around an animal&#39;s neck with a different side of the elongated strap  301  facing outwards.  
         [0023]     The elongated strap  301  has a first side  160  and a second side  161 . In some embodiments, the first side  160  may be of a different color, and may also have different thread colors showing, and may also have different embossing or other design features than the second side  161  of the elongated strap  301 . In some embodiments, the elongated strap  301  may consist of two or more layers, such that the first side  160  is of a layer of one material, and the second side  161  is of a layer of a second material.  
         [0024]     A plurality of inserts  106  are attached into the elongated strap  301  in some embodiments. The inserts  106  may be mounted through holes in the elongated strap  301  in some embodiments. The inserts  106  may have recesses allowing for the placement of decoration in to the faces of the inserts. Although the inserts are decorative in the sense that they provide mounting for a decorative portion, the inserts may of sufficient strength that they are structural as well. A first side  162  of the studs  106  may be part of a decorative scheme on the first side  160  of the elongated strap  301 , and the second side  163  of the studs  106  may be part of a decorative scheme on the second side  161  of the elongated strap  301 . Thus, with a reversible buckle assembly  151 , the collar may flipped over on the animal in order to display a different set of decorations, but still be able to be fastened in the usual fashion.  
         [0025]      FIG. 2  illustrates a collar in use on an animal. The elongated strap  101  has been buckled around the animal&#39;s neck into a loop. A leash  120  has been fastened to the collar. The leash ring is on the upper, top portion of the animal&#39;s neck, allowing the decorative studs to be more visible.  
         [0026]      FIG. 3  illustrates a side view of the elongated strap  101  and a decorative insert  106  according to some embodiments of the present invention, also seen in cross-section in  FIG. 5 . The decorative insert  106  has a male portion  109  and a female portion  110 . A grommet  111  has been attached to the elongated strap  101  around a through hole. In some embodiments, the grommet may be a self-piercing grommet. The male portion  109  has had its threaded stud  116  inserted through the strap, and through the center of the grommet, to thread into the threaded hole  117  in the female portion  110 . In some embodiments, the male portion  109  and the female portion  110  are made of aluminum. In some embodiments, the male portion  109  and the female portion  110  are made of metal or plastic. The grommet  111  allows for the decorative stud  106  to clamp around the grommet instead of the collar strap in some embodiments.  
         [0027]     The male portion  109  may have a recess  109  which is filled with a decorative portion  113 . A decorative design, or a letter, or other graphic object may be placed in the recess. The decorative design may be on paper or other material, and may be bonded into the bottom of the recess. A clear layer may then be placed over the decorative design in some embodiments. The clear layer may be a self-healing urethane in some embodiments. The female portion  110  may have a recess  114  which is filled with a decorative portion  115 . The decorative inserts may be slightly recessed in the recesses in some embodiments. The decorative insert may display an artistic rendering or a letter or other item. The recessing of the decorative insert into the recess reduces the likelihood of scratching of the top surface of the decorative insert. The use of a material such as a self-healing urethane allows for “scratching” of the surface and subsequent healing of the scratch. The recessing may also be used for aesthetic purpose.  
         [0028]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of a decorative insert mounted on a collar without a grommet. The male portion  109  and the female portion  110  are threaded together and capture the elongated strap  101 . In some embodiments, with or without grommets, the male portion  109  and the female portion  110  may use a shoulder such that threads can be places under tension without putting pressure on the collar.  
         [0029]      FIG. 6  illustrates a side view of the mounting of a leash ring holder  107  according to some embodiments of the present invention. The decorative stud  106  captures the leash ring holder  107  along side the elongated strap  101  in some embodiments. The leash ring holder may be a metallic strip formed into a double backed overlapping strap with an opening for the leash ring in some embodiments. One or more leash ring holders may used to attach a leash ring to the collar. In some embodiments, the leash ring holder may form a substantially circular cross-section in which the leash ring is held. In some embodiments, the center of the circular cross-section may line up with the centerline of the elongated strap. Thus, when the collar is reversed, the position of the leash ring relative to the plane of the elongated strap remains substantially constant.  
         [0030]      FIG. 7  illustrates a leash  200  according to some embodiments of the present invention. In some embodiments, the leash  200  has a strap portion  201  with a handle  202 . The handle  202  may be a loop of the strap material in some embodiments. In some embodiments, the strap may be made of leather. In some embodiments, the strap may be made of nylon webbing or other suitable materials. The collar end  203  of the strap portion  201  may have a clip  204  for attachment of the leash  200  to an animal collar.  
         [0031]     The leash  200  may have one or more decorative inserts  205  mounted in to the strap portion  201  according to earlier described embodiments of the invention. The leash mounted decorative inserts allow for display of decorations, names, or other items on the leash itself. The decorative inserts on the leash may be coordinated with the decorative inserts on the collar to achieve an aesthetic aim.  
         [0032]     In some embodiments of the present invention, as seen in  FIG. 8 , a leash  400  has a strap portion  401  with a handle  402 . The handle  402  may be a loop of the strap material in some embodiments. In some embodiments, the strap may be made of leather. In some embodiments, the strap may be made of nylon webbing or other suitable materials. A plurality of decorative inserts  405  may be attached to the strap portion of the leash. The collar end  403  of the strap portion  401  may have a first clip  404  for attachment of the leash  400  to an animal collar. A ring  405  may be attached to the strap portion  401 . In some embodiments, the ring  405  is attached to the strap portion  401  adjacent to the handle  402 . The ring allows a use who may be walking their dog, for example, to attach personal items such as keys to the leash. In some embodiments, the ring  405  is attached to the strap portion  401  with inserts  406 . In some embodiments, the ring  405  is attached to the strap portion  401  by being sewn in to the leash, between folds of the leash or handle material, for example. In some embodiments, a second clip  407  is attached to the ring. The second clip  407  allows for the clipping on of personal items, for example, of the user.  
         [0033]     As evident from the above description, a wide variety of embodiments may be configured from the description given herein and additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is, therefore, not limited to the specific details and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures from such details may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the applicant&#39;s general invention.