Abstract:
The present disclosure is for an adjustable leash that can quickly and easily be converted to a restraining harness that helps to inhibit the unwanted movement of the dog or other animal walking on the leash. In some embodiments, the leash is adjustable without the use of any tools and can be adapted to fit quadrupeds of a variety of sizes.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority under 35 USC §119 to U.S. Provisional Patent Ser. No. 61/396,241, filed on May 24, 2010, and titled “STOP PULLING HARNESS,” the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Technical Field 
         [0003]    The present disclosure relates to restraint devices for quadruped animals. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to an adjustable leash that is easily adapted to restraining a quadruped, such as a dog, from excessively pulling or straining when walked on a leash. 
         [0004]    2. Background 
         [0005]    Various drawbacks exist for many types of existing harnesses and leashes for animals such as dogs or other quadrupeds. For example, leashes that attach solely to a collar, or other types of neck or head worn harnesses, if improperly used can cause injury and harm to the animal wearing the leash. Another drawback of existing body-worn harnesses is that they are relatively expensive and difficult to put on. 
         [0006]    Another drawback of existing leashes and harnesses is that some quadrupeds, dogs in particular, are prone to try and lunge, run, tug, or strain against the leash. This is a more acute drawback when the dog is of a large, powerful breed and the person holding the leash is relatively small or overmatched compared to the dog. In this scenario, the dog ends up dragging or pulling the person along behind which is not a desirable or enjoyable result for the person, and is detrimental to the discipline and training of the dog. Other drawbacks also exist. 
         [0007]    Therefore, it is desirable to provide a relatively inexpensive and easy to use leash or harness that it easy to use and obviates many of the known drawbacks of existing products. It is further desirable, to provide a leash or harness that helps to inhibit a dog, or other animal, from lunging or straining against the leash. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    The present disclosure advantageously addresses one or more of the aforementioned deficiencies by providing an adjustable leash that can quickly and easily be converted to a restraining harness that helps to inhibit the unwanted movement of the dog or other animal walking on the leash. In some embodiments, the leash is adjustable without the use of any tools and can be adapted to fit quadrupeds of a variety of sizes. 
         [0009]    In one embodiment, the adjustable leash can be attached to a collar or other harness and function as a normal leash or lead when walking a dog or other quadruped. In the event the dog or other quadruped displays undesirable behavior (e.g., lunging, or tugging against the leash) the free end of the leash can be passed through a loop forming junction (e.g., a ring or other connector) to form a loop in the leash that encircles the dog&#39;s or other quadruped&#39;s body in a region near the hind legs. Further undesirable behavior by the dog or quadruped will result in tightening or cinching of the loop around the body, and in turn causing mild discomfort to the animal that discourages the undesirable behavior. 
         [0010]    In another embodiment, the leash is adjustable so that the loop forming junction (e.g., ring) may be positioned in a desirable location on the dog&#39;s or other quadruped&#39;s body. In some embodiments, a desirable location on the dog is adjacent to the hind legs of the animal. On male dogs or quadrupeds, the location of the loop forming junction may be adjusted to not interfere with, or cause pain in, the animal&#39;s reproductive organs. In some embodiments, the portions of the leash that encircle or contact the animal&#39;s body may be padded for additional comfort or protection against injury, while still delivering the tightening or cinching to curb the undesirable behavior. 
         [0011]    In another embodiment the leash is adjustable to fit differing sizes of dogs or other quadruped. In this fashion, a person owning more than one dog of differing sizes or breeds can adjust the leash to fit any number of animals. 
         [0012]    The present disclosure will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are intended to be read in conjunction with both this summary, the detailed description, and any preferred or particular embodiments specifically discussed or otherwise disclosed. This disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided by way of illustration only so that this disclosure will be thorough, and fully convey the full scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is an exemplary depiction of an embodiment of the invention in use as a restraint on a dog or other quadruped. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is an exemplary depiction of an embodiment of the invention in use as a leash on a dog or other quadruped. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3A  is an exemplary depiction of ring embodiment of a loop forming junction according to some embodiments of the invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3B  is an exemplary depiction of a D-ring embodiment of a loop forming junction according to some embodiments of the invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 3C  is an exemplary depiction of an triangular ring embodiment of a loop forming junction according to some embodiments of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part thereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific exemplary embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that modifications to the various disclosed embodiments may be made, and other embodiments may be utilized, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense. 
         [0019]    With reference to  FIG. 1 , the adjustable leash is shown generally at  10 . As shown, the adjustable leash  10  has an end  15  that is releasably attachable to a collar or other harness  30  that is worn by a dog or other quadruped animal  20 . In some embodiments, end  15  may include a clasp, hook, latch, buckle, or other releasable fastener that can attach to an appropriate eyelet or ring on the collar or other harness  30 . In other embodiments, it may be desirable to make the collar  30  integral with end  15 , for example, by fashioning an adjustable loop or the like that would fit around the neck, shoulders, or forelegs  22 , of the dog or animal  20 . 
         [0020]    Further, while dog or other quadruped  20  animal is generally depicted in  FIG. 1  as a canine, the disclosure is not so limited. The adjustable leash  10  may be used with any animal for which control by leash or harness is appropriate, and further, the animal need not be a quadruped. 
         [0021]    In some embodiments, adjustable leash  10  may be constructed out of cord or cord-like material. For example, adjustable leash  10  may be constructed out of flat or tubular webbing material, rope, cord, straps, woven material, linked or chain material, wire, cable, or other relatively flexible cord-like material. In some embodiments, the adjustable leash  10  may be constructed out of Nylon, plastics, rubbers, or other synthetic materials. In other embodiments, the adjustable leash  10  may be made out of natural materials such as leather, natural fibers, metals (including alloys), or the like. 
         [0022]    As also shown in  FIG. 1 , end  15  is part of a first portion  40  of the adjustable leash  10 . First portion  40  may be adjustable in length through use of an appropriate adjustment mechanism  50  such as a double or triple slide, D-rings, buckles, snaps, buttons, hook-and-loop fasteners, or other cord adjustment mechanisms. In some embodiments, adjustment mechanism  50  is employed to position loop forming junction  60  at or near the hind legs  24  of the dog or other quadruped  20 , and generally along the spine or back  26  of the dog or other animal  20 . 
         [0023]    As further shown in  FIG. 1 , first portion  40  connects with a loop forming junction  60 . In some embodiments, loop forming junction  60  may comprise a ring or other similar device that facilitates the formation of a loop in the adjustable leash  10 . 
         [0024]    As illustrated with reference to  FIG. 2 , when not configured as a restraining harness, adjustable leash  10  functions as a normal leash, in that it is attached to the dog or other quadruped  20  via a collar or other harness  30  and grasped at a free end  100  by the person walking the dog or other quadruped  20 . Of course, free end  100  is at the end of a second portion  90  of the adjustable leash  10  and may have a loop, handle, or other mechanism to facilitate the grasping and control of the adjustable leash  10 . When it is desired to configure the adjustable leash  10  into a restraining harness, the free end  100  of the second portion  90  is wrapped around the dog or other quadruped  20  at a region at or near the hind legs  25 . The free end  100  is then passed through the loop forming junction  60  in order to snuggly fit around the dog or other quadruped  20  as shown with reference to  FIG. 1 . Any undesirable behavior by the dog or other quadruped  20  (e.g., lunging, running, tugging, or straining against the adjustable leash  10 ) causes the loop portion  70  to tighten or cinch around the body of the dog or other quadruped  20  and discourages the undesirable behavior. 
         [0025]    As depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the first portion  40  and second portion  90  of the adjustable leash  10  meet at loop forming junction  60 . As described above, the loop forming junction  60  facilitates the forming of a loop, using loop portion  70 , around the body of the dog or other quadruped  20 . Loop forming junction  60  may be manufactured in any appropriate manner from a material suitable to handle the anticipated stresses and loading on the leash  10 . For example, and with reference to  FIGS. 3A-3C , loop forming junction  60  may comprise a metal ring  60   a,  a D-ring  60   b,  a triangular shaped ring  60   c,  or some other appropriately shaped junction point. 
         [0026]    As also illustrated in  FIGS. 3A-3C , the loop forming junction  60  may be securely fastened to the first portion  40  of the leash  10 , as well as fixed end of the second portion  90  of the leash  10 , by any appropriate method as indicated at  200 . For example, the material of first portion  40  may be folded and sewed, glued, melted, welded, or otherwise fastened using mechanical fasteners (e.g., staples, crimps, or the like). The method of fastening may vary according to factors such as the materials used or the strength desired. 
         [0027]    As described herein, one function of the loop forming junction  60  is to enable the forming of a loop using loop portion  70  of the leash  10 . Thus, it is possible to implement any combination of shapes, materials, and coatings, or the like, that facilitate the feeding through of free end  100  and the motion of second portion  90  as it tightens or cinches upon tension. For example, for a leash  10  made of round profile cord-like material (e.g., rope), a circular ring (such as  60   a ) made of steel or the like may perform best for forming a cinchable loop, whereas with flat profile cord-like material (e.g., Nylon webbing) a triangular shaped ring (such as  60   c ) may perform best. In addition, knurled surfaces, silicone or Teflon coatings, or vinyl or similar covers may be implemented in loop forming junction  60  to facilitate the operation of the loop portion  70 . Thus, for example, if the cord-like material slides too easily through the loop forming junction  60 , knurling or coatings may be added to increase friction. Conversely, if the material does not slide easily, coatings or vinyl covers may be added to decrease friction. Other solutions, such as mechanical features (e.g., a locking gate, or the like, built into the junction  60 ) are also possible. 
         [0028]    Likewise, the material used to make loop forming junction  60  can vary depending upon the nature of the intended use. In some embodiments, steel or other metal junction rings  60  are desirable (e.g., when large forces are expected). In other embodiments, plastic, or other synthetic materials may be implemented (e.g., when lower manufacturing costs are desirable, or for use in wet environments where metals may rust). 
         [0029]    In some embodiments it may be advantageous to pad or otherwise soften the loop portion  70  where it contacts the dog or other quadruped  20 . This may be accomplished in any suitable fashion, for example, by including a positionable pad  80 , or by constructing the loop portion  70  of the leash  10  out of softer, more elastic, or otherwise padded material  80 . One object of padding portion  80  of the leash  10  is to minimize or prevent injury to the dog or other quadruped. Other padding configurations are also possible. 
         [0030]    Although the present disclosure is described in terms of certain preferred embodiments, other embodiments will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, given the benefit of this disclosure, including embodiments that do not provide all of the benefits and features set forth herein, which are also within the scope of this disclosure. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.