Abstract:
A pet collar device ( 100 ) incorporates a body ( 117 ) and a reciprocating plunger ( 109 ) extending through the body. A flexible band ( 101 ), attached to one end of the plunger, extends from the body when a knob ( 111 ) of the plunger is depressed by a palm or thumb of a hand and the fingers of the same hand engage finger grips ( 123 ) on the body. The extended band allows placement over the head of a pet. Release of the plunger by the hand allows a bias spring ( 127 ) to bias the plunger in the opposite direction, retracting the flexible band into the body and securing the collar device about the neck of the animal. The collar device allows quick and simple one-handed engagement of the collar device on the animal.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to pet collars and, more particularly, to pet collars for use with leashes. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Many pet owners find themselves faced with pet restraint issues, including frequent need to maintain physical control of the pet during exercise, leisure and housekeeping chores. A necessary step for pet restraint is attaching a pet collar and leash or, alternatively, connecting a leash to a collar maintained on the pet. Either of these methods is an inconvenient, or even difficult evolution since it often requires pet restraint while fumbling with small attachment devices such as buckles, snaps or clips. Even if the animal remains calm, attaching small fasteners utilized on conventional collars and leashes requires two hands and good vision. This evolution is especially difficult if one hand is needed for support, or if the owner is a elderly or physically or visually impaired. 
     Various improvements on the collar and leash have been disclosed to address some of these limitations. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,129,363 discloses a leash apparatus having an elongate body with an actuator rod. A handle is fitted on one end and a strap on the other. The strap forms an adjustable noose to secure and animal. The device aids those of diminished physical capability to secure the strap about the animal&#39;s head. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,317,989 discloses an adjustable animal collar and leash which includes a wide flexible collar member attached to “D” rings and a flexible strap member looped through the “D” rings to provide an adjustable collar opening. The other end of the leash strap member is folded and sewn to form a loop handle. 
     The large size and requirement for two-handed operation limits the effectiveness of these devices. A need exists for an improved collar device that addresses the limitations of presently available collars and leashes for pets. 
     OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Therefore an object of the present invention is to provide a collar device that can be quickly and easily secured about the neck of a pet with one hand. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a collar device that can be used with a conventional leash. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a collar device that is small and light, reducing strain on the animal and it&#39;s owner. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a collar device that can be used with different sized animals. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a collar device that can be used by elderly or physically or visually impaired pet owners. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a collar that is simple and low in cost. 
     The pet collar device of the present invention comprises a plunger reciprocally mounted in a body or housing. The end portions of a flexible band are attached to the distal end of the plunger inside the body forming a loop of the flexible strap extending from the distal end of the body. The palm or thumb of the hand engages a knob attached to the proximate end of the plunger extending from the proximate end of the body, and the fingers of the same hand engage finger grips on the body of the device. Constricting the hand muscles propels the plunger and end portions of the strap towards the distal end of the body to extend the strap from the body, enlarging the loop and allowing placement of the loop over the head of the pet. Releasing the plunger allows a bias element such as a spring to bias the plunger in the opposite direction, retracting the end portions of the strap towards the proximate end of the body and reducing the loop diameter to retain the collar device on the neck of the pet. 
     A leash fastener attachment allows connection of a conventional leash to the collar device for restraint and control of the pet. The leash may be left connected to the pet collar device so that only a quick, one-handed operation of engaging the collar device to the neck of the pet is required for use. The pet collar of the present invention eliminates fumbling with small fasteners while attaching the collar to the animal or the leash to the collar. The device is quicker and more convenient than conventional collars and leashes and usable by those with physical or visual impairments which would otherwise prevent use of conventional apparatus. And, the device is small and prevents fatigue or strain on the animal. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims and accompanying drawings where: 
     FIG. 1 is a top view of the collar device with the upper portion of the body removed to show the internal parts of the device including the spring biasing the piston of the plunger in the band-retracted (engaged) position; 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of the collar device of FIG. 1 showing the flexible band and piston engagement holes allowing attachment to the piston of the plunger; 
     FIG. 3 is a view of the top of the collar device showing the plunger depressed by engagement of the knob of the plunger by the palm of a hand and the fingers of the same hand engaging the finger grips on the body to extend the loop of the flexible band to the band-extended or unengaged position to allow placement of the band loop over the head of an animal; 
     FIG. 4 is a view of the top of the collar device showing the plunger released and in the band-retracted or engaged position resulting from the bias spring biasing the piston of the plunger towards the proximate end of the body and retracting the ends of the flexible band into the body, engaging the loop of the band on the neck of the animal; 
     FIG. 5 is a cross section of the device taken along lines  5 - 5  of FIG. 4; and 
     FIG. 6 is a cross section of the device taken along lines  6 - 6  of FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 7 is a cross-section of an embodiment of a flexible band comprising a sponge rubber tube surrounding a portion of band. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following is a description of the preferred embodiments of a pet collar device which allows one-handed engagement or disengagement of a collar from a pet. 
     FIG. 1 is a top view of the embodiment  100  of the device with the upper portion of the body removed. The collar device comprises a flexible band  101  having a loop portion  101 B and end portions  103  and  105  attached to piston  107  of band extension element or reciprocating plunger  109 . Piston  107  serves as an attachment point for band end portions  103  and  105  to plunger  109 . Piston  107  of plunger  109  is connected to first hand engagement element or knob  111  by shaft  113 . Piston  107  slides in piston slot  115  of body  117  to define an axis  119  along which plunger  109  reciprocates. In the preferred embodiments, longitudinal axis  121  (shown in FIG. 2) of plunger  109  is parallel to reciprocating axis  119 . In the embodiment shown, axis  121  is coincident with axis  119 . 
     In the preferred embodiments, finger grips  123  on body  117  and knob  111  of plunger  109  are positioned so that the palm or thumb of a hand can simultaneously engage surface  111 A of knob  111  and the fingers of the same hand engage surface  123 A of finger grips  123  as shown in FIG.  3 . In this way, a single hand can depress plunger  109 , extending piston  107  and end portions  103  and  105  of flexible band  101  towards distal end  117 A of body  117  and enlarging loop portion  101 B of band  101 . 
     Forward end  125  of piston slot  115  acts as a stop at full depression of plunger  109  along axis  119  and defines the band-extended or unengaged position of flexible band  101  as shown in FIG.  3 . In the band-extended position, loop  101 B can be passed over the head  301  of an animal  303  and positioned over the neck  305  of the animal as shown in FIG.  4 . Upon release of knob  111  of plunger  109 , a bias element such as helical spring  127  biases piston  107  of plunger  109  toward proximate end  117 B of body  117  until it reaches stop  129  of piston slot  115 . FIG. 4 shows the band-retracted or engaged position of band  101 . In the band-retracted position, band  101  engages the neck  305  of animal  303 . 
     Distal end portion  117 A of body  117  forms part of the loop of band  101  between band end portions  103  and  105 . In the preferred embodiments, distal end portion  117 A is curved as shown in the figure to conform to the neck of the pet and provide a comfortable fit. 
     Band slots  130  of body  117  provide lateral and transverse support to end portions of flexible band  101  inside body  117 , but allow longitudinal motion of the band. In this way, the end portions of band  101  slide longitudinally in slots  130  during motion of plunger  109 . In the preferred embodiments, piston  107  has a circular cross section as viewed from the side (transverse to plunger axis  121 ). Circular piston engagement holes engage the ends of piston  107  to secure end portions  103  and  105  to piston  107 . In other embodiments, piston  107  comprises other cross sections such as rectangular, semicircular, or triangular, and band  101  comprises corresponding engagement holes. In still other embodiments, piston  107  is engaged to band  101  by other mechanical fasteners such as clips, or by adhesives. 
     A leash attachment element such as leash aperture  131  on knob  111  provides a means to attach a leash  133  for providing restraint to the pet. In alternative embodiments, other leash attachment elements such as clips, swivels, eyes, or split rings may be used. Other fastener elements such as split ring  135  facilitates attachment of leash  133  to leash aperture  131  of plunger  111 . 
     FIG. 5 is a cross section of the embodiment of FIG. 4 taken at lines  5 — 5  of FIG.  4 . Upper body portion  135  and lower body portion  137  of body  117  comprise band slots  130  slideably supporting flexible band  101 . Circular shaft slots  139  of upper and lower body portions  135  and  137  slideably support shaft  113  of plunger  109 . 
     FIG. 6 is a cross section of the embodiment-of FIG. 4 taken at lines  6 — 6  of FIG.  4 . Piston slot portions I  15  of upper body portion  135  and lower body portion  137  slidably support piston  107 . Piston  107  engages holes  101 A of band  101  end portions  103  and  105 . Fasteners  141  engage threads  143  of fastener holes  145  to fix body portions  135  and  137 . Alternatively, alignment pins  147  align portions  135  and  137  and body clip  149  of fig. 4 clamps the body portions together. 
     In the preferred embodiments, flexible band  101  is made of a plastic material such as an extruded polyolefin or extruded polyamide. In other embodiments, flexible band  101  is made of metal, such as spring steel, bronze, or stainless steel. In still other embodiments, flexible band  101  is made of a composite material such as plastic-impregnated fabric. Plastic laminated metal bands provide strength and resiliency, and also provide a soft surface that will not cut or abrade the animal&#39;s skin. FIG. 7 is a cross-section of yet another embodiment of a flexible band comprising a sponge rubber tube  151  surrounding a portion of band  101 . Tube  151  covers only the portion of band  101  which is not enclosed in body  117 . 
     In the preferred embodiments, body  117  is made of plastic, such as injection-molded polyolefins, PVC, PET, or engineered plastics to provide a lightweight device. In other embodiments, body  117  is made of metal. Plunger  107  may be made of metal or plastic. Knob  111  may be made of plastic, wood, metal, rubber, or other materials suitable for the purpose. In one embodiment of the present invention, the proximate end of shaft  113  of plunger  109  may perform the function of a hand engagement element or knob  111 . In the preferred embodiments, spring  127  is steel. In other embodiments, other bias elements such as pneumatic piston and cylinder arrangements may be used. In use, upper body portion  135  is removed to allow adjustment of band loop size. Appropriate engagement holes  101 A are engaged with piston  107  to provide the desired engagement fit of band  101  around the pet&#39;s neck when band  101  is in the band-retracted position of FIG. 4, and yet provide sufficient clearance to fit over the head of the pet when in the band-extended position of FIG.  3 . Plunger  109  and band  101  are reassembled in lower body portion  137 , and the upper body portion  135  is assembled to lower body portion  137 . Band  101  end portions extending from body  117  are cut off as shown in FIG.  1 . Body clip  149  provides a means to quickly disassemble and reassemble pet collar device  100 . 
     The length of body  117 , plunger  109 , and band  101  maybe altered to fit different categories or size groups of pets. The length of piston slot  115  may be altered to provide the necessary difference between the band-extended and band-retracted positions of size groups or classes. For example, it may be preferable to supply three sizes of the pet collar device, one each for the general classes of small, medium and large dogs. 
     Accordingly, the reader will see that pet collar device provides an improved substitute for a conventional collar and leash. The device provides the following additional advantages: 
     The collar device may be placed over the head of the pet and engaged at the neck of the animal by a single hand. 
     The collar device may be used by the elderly and physically or visually impaired persons. 
     The flexible band of the collar device may be adjusted to fit the pet as it grows, or for use on different animals; 
     Conventional leashes may be used with the pet collar device; 
     The collar device is small and light, preventing fatigue of the pet; and 
     The collar device is simple and low in cost. 
     Although the description above contains many specifications, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. For example, only one end of the flexible band may be attached to the plunger with the second end attached to the body or housing. Or, a latch may be added to the device to latch the position of the plunger in the band retracted position, the band extended position, or both, to allow locking the collar device on the pet. Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.