Patent Publication Number: US-2023148568-A1

Title: Traction module with adjustable length limit and pet tractor with traction module

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure relates to the technical field of pet product, and, more particularly, to a traction module with an adjustable length limit and a pet tractor with the traction module. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Currently, a plurality of families has a plurality of pets raised. In order to facilitate an activity of a pet when walking out with the pet and prevent the pet from getting lost or affecting others, an owner usually adopts a pet tractor. Inside the pet tractor, there is usually a traction rope which is telescopic. Since it is convenient to use, having a small size, the pet tractor has been widely applied. 
     A longer traction rope is able to ensure that a pet has a larger activity range and more activities, conducive to a healthy growth of the pet. However, different regions have a plurality of different management requirements, thus have a plurality of different limitations to a length of the traction rope. A length limit of the traction rope is usually between 1.2 meters and 1.8 meters. However, a plurality of telescopic traction ropes has a length exceeding the length limit. Although an existing tractor product has a braking structure or a locking structure, being able to control the rope length, it is still difficult to meet a plurality of requirements in different regions accurately. Based on a plurality of reasons stated above, using a product and managing the product, have generated a contradiction that, for a tractor manufacturer and a tractor seller, due to different regions having different length requirements, it is hard to satisfy different users in different regions by one product, which increases a difficulty in a production management and sale. 
     Therefore, the current technology needs to be improved and developed. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     According to the above described defects, the purpose of the present disclosure is providing a traction module with an adjustable length limit and a pet tractor with the traction module, in order to achieve a purpose of adjusting a pullout length of a traction rope conveniently. 
     A technical solution of the present disclosure to solve the technical problems is as follows: 
     a traction module with an adjustable length limit, comprising a module shell, a traction rope arranged in the module shell, and a winding mechanism applied to winding the traction rope, wherein the module shell has a gear shifting mechanism arranged, applied to limiting a pulling-out length of the traction rope by restricting a movement of the winding mechanism. 
     The traction module with the adjustable length limit, wherein, the winding mechanism comprises a roller arranged in the module shell and a coil spring arranged in the roller, an inner side of the module shell has a fixed shaft arranged, the roller is sleeved on the fixed shaft, and the traction rope is wound and arranged on the roller. 
     The traction module with the adjustable length limit, wherein the gear shifting mechanism comprises a gear shifting connector, a gear shifting disc assembly, and a regulation disc assembly arranged in a sequence, the gear shifting disc assembly connects to the roller through the gear shifting connector, the regulation disc assembly restricts a rolling number of the roller through the gear shifting disc assembly. 
     The traction module with the adjustable length limit, wherein the gear shifting disc assembly comprises a driving ring connecting to the gear shifting connector, and a plurality of driven rings arranged coaxially with the driving ring, the plurality of driven rings and the driving ring are engaged sequentially from outside to inside; the driving ring has a driving block arranged, and each of the plurality of driven rings has a driven block arranged. 
     The traction module with the adjustable length limit, wherein the gear shifting connector comprises a spline connected to the roller and a transmission shaft arranged on a side of the spline facing to the gear shifting mechanism, the transmission shaft is inserting and connecting to an inside of the driving ring, while the transmission shaft and the driving ring are rolling coaxially through a connection unit. 
     The traction module with the adjustable length limit, wherein the regulation disc assembly comprises a regulation disc body, a plurality of regulation holes arranged in the regulation disc body, and a regulation pin applied to inserting into the regulation hole, while the plurality of regulation holes are corresponding respectively to the plurality of driven blocks, the regulation pin inserts into one of the regulation holes, applied to blocking a movement of the driven block correspondingly. 
     The traction module with the adjustable length limit, wherein the module shell has an accommodating cavity arranged, applied to accommodating the gear shifting disc assembly, the regulation disc body is arranged covering a front end of the accommodating cavity; a middle part of the regulation disc body has a adapting hole arranged, applied to accommodating the regulation pin. 
     The traction module with the adjustable length limit, wherein the module shell further has a brake mechanism arranged, the brake mechanism comprises a support seat arranged on the module shell, a brake block slidably connected to the support seat, and a brake disc arranged on the roller while adapting to the brake block, and a spring is arranged between the brake block and the support seat. 
     The traction module with the adjustable length limit, wherein the brake block comprises a button and a clamping block arranged on the button, the clamping block is arranged at an end of the button facing to the roller, the brake disc is arranged on a side surface of the roller, the brake disc has a plurality of clamping teeth arranged adapting to the clamping block, and the plurality of clamping teeth are arranged evenly on an edge of the brake disc. 
     A pet tractor, wherein comprising any one of the traction modules with the adjustable length limit described above, and a tractor shell arranged covering an outside of the traction module. 
     All above, the present disclosure has a plurality of following beneficial effects: 
     the present disclosure improves a structure of the pet tractor, and adds a gear shifting mechanism. A user, by adjusting the gear shifting mechanism, limits a movement gear of the winding mechanism, thereby limits precisely a pull-out length of the traction rope, making a length of the traction rope be able to meet a local usage requirement, thus providing a convenience for users and manufacturers. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    illustrates a schematic structural diagram on a traction module in a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  2    illustrates a schematic diagram on a whole structure in a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  3    illustrates a schematic diagram on the whole structure in another view angle in a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  4    illustrates an exploded diagram on a part of the winding mechanism in a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  5    illustrates an exploded diagram on a part of the gear shifting mechanism in a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  6    illustrates a schematic diagram on an assembly structure of the gear shifting mechanism in a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  7    illustrates an exploded diagram on the gear shifting disc assembly in a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     Wherein:  100 —tractor shell;  110 —knob;  120 —front body shell;  130 —rear body shell;  200 —traction rope;  300 —winding mechanism;  310 —roller;  311 —clamping groove;  320 —fixed shaft;  330 —coil spring;  340 —accommodating cavity;  400 —gear shifting mechanism;  410 —gear shifting connector;  411 —spline;  412 —transmission shaft;  420 —gear shifting disc assembly;  421 —driving ring;  422 —driving block;  423 —driven ring;  424 —driven block;  430 —regulation disc assembly;  431 —regulation disc body;  432 —regulation hole;  433 —regulation pin;  434 —adapting hole;  500 —brake mechanism;  510 —support seat;  520 —brake block;  521 —button;  522 —clamping block;  530 —brake disc;  531 —clamping tooth;  540 —spring;  600 —module shell. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     In order to make the purpose, technical solution and the advantages of the present disclosure clearer and more explicit, further detailed descriptions of the present disclosure are stated herein, referencing to the attached drawings and some embodiments of the present disclosure. It should be understood that the detailed embodiments of the disclosure described herein are used to explain the present disclosure only, instead of limiting the present disclosure. Those skilled in the art may make a plurality of modifications without any innovations to the embodiments stated herein, according to any real requirements, however, as long as they are covered by the protection range of the claims, they are protected by the patent law. 
     In a description of the present disclosure, it should be understood that a plurality of terms indicating an orientation or a positional relationship, including “length”, “width”, “upper”, “lower”, “front”, “rear”, “left”, “right”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “top”, “bottom”, “inner”, “outer”, and more, are based on the orientation or the positional relationship indicated on the drawings, and they are used only for a convenience of describing the present disclosure and simplifying a description, instead of indicating or implying that the pointed device or element must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, therefore cannot be understood as a limitation to the present disclosure. 
     In addition, the terms “first”, “second”, and “third” are only used for descriptive purposes only, instead of being understood as indicating or implying a relative importance or implicitly indicating a number of a plurality of indicated technical features. Thus, the features defined with “first”, “second”, and “third” may explicitly or implicitly comprise one or more of these features. In the description of the present disclosure, “a plurality” means two or more, unless otherwise specifically defined. 
     In the present disclosure, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, a plurality of terms, including “installation”, “connecting”, “connection”, “fixation”, “setting” and more, should be understood in a broad sense. For example, it can be a fixed connection or it is detachably connected or integrated; it can be mechanically connected or electrically connected; it can be directly connected or indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, and it can also be an internal communication of two components or an interaction between the two components. For those ordinary skilled in the present art, the specific meaning of the terms mentioned above in the present disclosure can be understood according to a specific circumstance. 
     Embodiment: a traction module with an adjustable length limit, shown as  FIG.  1    and  FIG.  2   , comprises a module shell  600 , a traction rope  200  arranged in the module shell  600 , and a winding mechanism  300  applied to winding the traction rope  200 , preferably, a free end of the traction rope  200  has a metal hook arranged. Wherein the traction module further comprises a gear shifting mechanism  400 , the gear shifting mechanism  400  is arranged on the module shell  600 , the gear shifting mechanism  400  restricts a length of the traction rope  200  being able to extend, by restricting a movement of the winding mechanism  300 . 
     Shown from  FIG.  2    to  FIG.  4   , the winding mechanism  300  comprises a roller  310 , a coil spring  330 , and a fixed shaft  320 . The roller  310  is arranged in the module shell  600 , the coil spring  330  is arranged in the roller  310 , the fixed shaft  320  is arranged on the module shell  600 , and located on an inner side of the module shell  600 . The roller  310  is sleeved on the fixed shaft  320 , and through the fixed shaft  320 , the roller  310  rolls in the module shell  600 . By the fixed shaft  320  connecting to one end of the coil spring  330 , it makes the coil spring  330  generate an elastic potential in contraction, and the traction rope  200  is wound and arranged on the roller  310 . 
     When the traction rope  200  is being pulled out, the roller  310  rolls and releases the traction rope  200 . Due to the coil spring  330  arranged in the roller  310 , when the roller  310  rolls, it drives the coil spring  330  to deform at a same time. When an external force applied to the traction rope  200  is smaller than an elastic restoring force of the coil spring  330 , the coil spring  330  will drive the roller  310  to roll reversely, thus recycling and winding the traction rope  200  onto the roller  310 . 
     Shown from  FIG.  5    to  FIG.  7   , the gear shifting mechanism  400  comprises a gear shifting connector  410 , a gear shifting disc assembly  420 , and a regulation disc assembly  430  arranged in a sequence, the gear shifting disc assembly  420  connects to the roller  310  through the gear shifting connector  410 , the regulation disc assembly  430  restricts a rolling number of the roller  310  through the gear shifting disc assembly  420 . The present disclosure achieves a multi-level regulation to the length of the traction rope  200 , by converting a length control of the traction rope  200  into a rolling number control to the roller  310 . 
     The present disclosure designs a gear shifting connector  410  arranged independently. Since a diameter of the roller  310  is usually much larger than a diameter of the gear shifting connector  410 , thus, when towing a large pet, a large torque will be applied onto the gear shifting connector  410  when in use, and it is needed to ensure that the gear shifting connector  410  meets a strength requirement. In the prior art, the gear shifting connector  410  and the roller  310  are usually arranged integrally, in order to ensure the strength requirement of the gear shifting connector  410 , the roller  310  as a whole needs to use a high-strength material. However, the present disclosure adopts a gear shifting connector  410  arranged independently, thus it is the gear shifting connector  410  only needs to adopt a high-strength material, before being able to ensure an overall structural strength, thus a material cost of the roller  310  is saved. 
     Specifically, the gear shifting disc assembly  420  comprises a driving ring  421  and a plurality of driven rings  423 , the driving ring  421  connects to the gear shifting connector  410 , and the plurality of driven rings  423  are arranged coaxially with the driving ring  421 , the plurality of driven rings  423  and the driving ring  421  are nested sequentially from outside to inside; during an assembly, each of the plurality of driven rings  423  and the driving ring  421  are arranged in an order from outside to inside. The driving ring  421  has a driving block  422  arranged, and each of the plurality of driven rings  423  has a driven block  424  arranged, the driving block  422  and a plurality of the driven blocks  424  are stacked in an order from inside to outside. During working, the driving block  422  and each driven block  424  are rolling from inside to outside sequentially. 
     The present disclosure controls a rolling number of the roller  310  by driving or blocking each ring between each other as stated above, before achieving a length control of the traction rope  200 . 
     Further, a side surface of the driving block  422  is perpendicular to a plane of the driving ring  421 , a side surface of the driven block  424  is also arranged perpendicular to the driven ring  423 , both the driving block  422  and the driven blocks  424  are arranged in a fan shape, having a center concentric with the driving ring  421 . Thus, when the driving block  422  abuts against the driven block  424 , and the plurality of driven blocks  424  abut against each other, they all contact in a plane, which increases a contact area, and lowers a strength requirement to a material. 
     The gear shifting connector  410  comprises, but not limited to, a spline  411  and a transmission shaft  412  arranged on the spline  411 , the spline  411  connects to the roller  310 , and a side of the roller  310  facing to the spline  411  has a clamping groove  311  arranged, applied to engaging with the spline  411 , the transmission shaft  412  is arranged on a side of the spline  411  facing to the gear shifting mechanism  400 . Specifically, the transmission shaft  412  is inserted and connected to an inside of the driving ring  421 , while there is a connection unit arranged between the transmission shaft  412  and the driving ring  421 , by the connection unit, it is achieved that the transmission shaft  412  and the driving ring  421  are rolling coaxially. Thus, when the transmission shaft  412  rolls, it will drive the driving ring  421  to roll. 
     Preferably, the driving ring  421  and the plurality of driven rings  423  are coated with a lubricating layer, to reduce a friction between each ring in rolling, ensuring a smooth movement of each ring when a pet stretches the traction rope  200 . When recycling the traction rope  200 , it ensures an elastic potential of the coil spring  330  is able to drive the roller  310 , the transmission shaft  412  and each ring to return to a corresponding position smoothly. 
     The regulation disc assembly  430  comprises a regulation disc body  431 , a plurality of regulation holes  432  arranged in the regulation disc body  431  and a regulation pin  433 , the regulation pin  433  is applied to being inserted into the regulation hole  432 , to limit a rolling number of the roller  310 . Specifically, the plurality of regulation holes  432  are corresponding to the plurality of driven blocks  424  respectively, the regulation pin  433  is inserted into one of the regulation holes  432 , applied to blocking a movement of the driven block  424  correspondingly. The module shell  600  has an accommodating cavity  340  arranged, the accommodating cavity  340  is applied to accommodating the gear shifting disc assembly  420 , the regulation disc body  431  is arranged covering a front end of the accommodating cavity  340 . A user achieves a gear shift of the gear shifting mechanism  400  by moving a position of the regulation pin  433 , before adjusting a length limit of the traction rope  200  exactly. 
     In the present embodiment, when a pet moves, the traction rope  200  is forced to extend out, making the roller  310  roll in the module shell  600 , thereby driving the transmission shaft  412 , the driving ring  421 , and the driven ring  423  to roll in an order. The driving ring  421  rolls and drives the driving block  422  to roll at a same time. During a rolling process, the driving block  422  abuts against the driven ring  423  of a first circle at the driven block  424 . Then, the driven block  424  of the driven ring  423  of the first circle is driven to roll by the driving block  422 , before driving the driven ring  423  of the second circle to roll. By an analogy, each driven ring  423  is driven by the driven block  424  thereof in an order until the driven block  424  of one of the driven rings  423  is blocked by the regulation pin  433  before stopping rolling. 
     When the driven block  424  of one of the driven rings  423  is blocked by the regulation pin  433 , the present driven ring  423  and a plurality of remaining driven rings  423  in an inner circle, the driving ring  421  and the transmission shaft  412 , will all stop rolling, so the roller  310  will also stop rolling, and the traction rope  200  will stop extending. All above, a position of the regulation pin  433  will control correspondingly a number of rolling of the roller  310  from an initial state, which is then converted into a rope length that the corresponding traction rope  200  is able to extend. 
     In an embodiment, the driven ring of the fifth circle is blocked, then all the driven rings from the first circle to the fifth circle stop moving, the driven rings of the sixth, the seventh, and the eighth cycle may generate a displacement due to a plurality of reasons including shaking, however, the displacement generated by the rings of the sixth, the seventh, and the eighth cycle will not affect a system function. 
     Generally, different regions define and restrict a plurality of different rope lengths, including 1.1 meters, 1.3 meters, 1.8 meters and more. In the present embodiment, there are 8 ring structures arranged, which may satisfy a requirement of controlling each length less than 1.8 meters. In a real life, if a longer length restriction is required, a more number of the ring structures may be designed. 
     In the present embodiment, the regulation disc assembly  430  having the regulation holes is applied as a regulation structure, the regulation pin  433  is inserted in different holes, while different holes are corresponding to different rope length gears respectively. In a specific implementation, a number and a position of the holes may be adjusted flexibly according to a real requirement. 
     Preferably, the regulation disc body  431  has an adapting hole  434  applied to accommodating the regulation pin  433  arranged in a middle part. When it is not needed to limit the length of the traction rope  200 , the regulation pin  433  may be inserted into the adapting hole  434 . Arranging the adapting hole  434  at a center of the regulation disc, which corresponds to the transmission shaft  412 , thus there is no effect on anyone of the driven rings  423  rolling. Thus, the traction rope  200  can expand and contract flexibly within a maximum range of the rope length. 
     In an embodiment, when a length of the traction rope  200  is limited to no exceeding 1.2 meters in a city, a user inserts the regulation pin  433  into a regulation hole  432  corresponding to the 1.2 meters, and restricts the length of the traction rope  200  being able to be pulled out to 1.2 meters, meeting a local regulation. During an outing, the regulation pin  433  may be inserted into the adapting hole  434  at the center of the regulation disc, before switching to the maximum length of the rope, making the pet have a larger range of movement. 
     Through a plurality of technical solutions of the present disclosure described above, even if the regulation of the rope length and the restriction region are different, the user may achieve shifting the gear by a plurality of simple operations. A structure is simple and reliable. For a manufacture, by adding the gear shifting mechanism  400  onto a traditional pet tractor, a target of a set of products adapting to a variety of rope lengths is realized, so that the product may be used universally when sold in various places, and a cost of production and sales is saved. 
     When retracting the traction rope  200 , if an external pulling force applied onto the traction rope  200  is less than a pulling force of the coil spring  330  thereof, the coil spring  330  will drive the roller  310  to roll in a reverse direction, retracting and winding the traction rope  200  onto the roller  310 . When the roller  310  rolls in a reverse direction, the transmission shaft  412  drives sequentially the driving ring  421  and the plurality of driven rings  423  to roll in the reverse direction. The regulation pin  433 , the driving block  422 , and each of the driven blocks  424  of the present disclosure are all adopting a position avoidance setting, thus the driving ring  421  and the driven ring  423  in rolling will not touch the regulation pin. When the traction rope  200  returns from a stretched state to an initial static state, the roller  310  also stops rolling following it. 
     Shown as  FIG.  4   , the module shell  600  further has a brake mechanism  500  arranged, the brake mechanism  500  comprises a support seat  510 , a brake block  520  and a brake disc  530 , the support seat  510  is arranged on the module shell  600 , the brake block  520  connects slidably to the support seat  510 , and the brake disc  530  is arranged on the roller  310 , also the brake disc  530  is adapting to the brake block  520 , and a spring is arranged between the brake block  520  and the support seat  510 . 
     The brake block  520  comprises a button  521  and a clamping block  522 , the clamping block  522  is arranged on a side of the button  521  facing to the roller  310 , the brake disc  530  is arranged on a side surface of the roller  310 , the brake disc  530  has a plurality of clamping teeth  531  arranged adapting to the clamping block  522 , and the plurality of clamping teeth  531  are arranged evenly at an edge of the brake disc  530 . 
     Specifically, during a process of the traction rope  200  stretching and retracting, the user drives the brake block  520  to press down by pressing the button  521 . At this time, a spring  540  is compressed by a force, and at a same time, the clamping block  522  abut to the clamping teeth  531  to prevent the roller  310  from rolling, making the traction rope  200  stop stretching or retracting. When the user releases the button  521 , due to a spring  540  arranged between the support seat  510  and the brake block  520 , the brake block  520  is reset under an elastic restoring force of the spring  540 , and the clamping block  522  is separated from the clamping tooth  531 , making the roller  310  be able to continue rolling, and the traction rope  200  continue to be stretched or retracted. 
     The present disclosure further provides a pet tractor, wherein shown as  FIG.  2    and  FIG.  3   , comprising any one of the traction modules described above, and a tractor shell  100  arranged covering an outside of the traction module. 
     The tractor shell  100  has a knob  110  arranged, in the present embodiment, the tractor shell  100  comprises a front body shell  120  and a rear body shell  130  arranged respectively on both sides of the traction module. The front body shell  120  and the rear body shell  130  are connected fixedly by a screw or a buckle structure. 
     Further, shown as  FIG.  3    and  FIG.  4   , the pet tractor further comprises a locking assembly, the locking assembly is applied to locking and stopping the brake block  520 , to keep the brake block  520  at a locked stopping position, after the user releasing the button  521 . Specifically, the locking assembly comprises a locking buckle that is engaged with the brake block  520 . When the brake block  520  is pressed, the locking buckle and the brake block  520  are engaged automatically or manually, to keep the brake block  520  in a pressed state. It should be noted that, the locking assembly is not an emphasis protected by the present disclosure, any structures that can achieve automatically locking the brake block  520  may be applied to the present disclosure. 
     All above, the present disclosure improves a structure of the pet tractor, and adds a gear shifting mechanism. A user, by adjusting the gear shifting mechanism, limits a movement gear of the winding mechanism, thereby limits precisely a pull-out length of the traction rope, making a length of the traction rope be able to meet a local usage requirement, thus providing a convenience for users and manufacturers. 
     It should be understood that, the application of the present disclosure is not limited to the above examples listed. Ordinary technical personnel in this field can improve or change the applications according to the above descriptions, all of these improvements and transforms should belong to the scope of protection in the appended claims of the present disclosure.