Patent Publication Number: US-2018035647-A1

Title: Leash Having Length-Adjustable Loop-Shaped Handle Portion and Method of Using Same

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     This application is a Divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/968,779, filed Dec. 14, 2015, which claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application. No. 62/091,605, filed on Dec. 14, 2014, both of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments are in the field of leashes. More particularly, embodiments disclosed herein relate to animal or human leashes that include a length-adjustable loop-shaped handle portion having a handle portion fastening system and methods of using same which, inter alia, foster easy and quick restraint of an animal or human to an object without having to disconnect the leash from the animal&#39;s or human&#39;s collar or harness. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This disclosure pertains to animal (e.g., dog, cat, pig, horse, etc.) and human leashes. It differs significantly from the disclosure in Anthony U.S. Published Patent Application No. 2012/0255506, issued to Anthony, which has a set size loop-end with a single fastener/leash handle component. Anthony&#39;s leash, let alone handle portion of the leash, is not adjustable in length and, as such, is very limited in its use and applications. 
     Embodiments herein are different than the leash disclosed by Anthony in that the embodiments have a handle portion that can be adjusted in overall length before being fastened into a loop. At a minimum, this adjustment can be manually performed as per  FIGS. 1-3 . In an embodiment, this invention includes a retractable, spool element (e.g., a retractable strap dispenser) that can be unwound as needed for wrapping around an object such as a tree or other permanent or movable object before at least partially retracting into itself and locking in place for a tighter fit of the strap about that object. 
     Embodiments are directed to providing a length-adjustable loop-shaped handle portion of a leash utilizing a handle portion fastener system and adjustment device that does not detract from the comfort of the handle portion. A significant advantage and improvement of these embodiments over prior art leashes is that an animal or human does not have to be disconnected from the leash in order to secure the leash to an object. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments are directed to a leash for an animal or human contains a fastener system such as a clasp and hook (or ring) in the looped handle portion of the leash. The length of the handle portion may be made manually adjustable (utilizing, for example, a buckle/belt fastener) or within a self-contained retractable dispenser of strap that can be extended as needed, retracted, and locked into place, and then unlocked for easier disconnect once the securement of the leash to the object is no longer needed. 
     According to embodiments, the leashes described herein are incredibly easy to use and helpful to most animal owners and/or caretakers. These leashes enable an animal (or human) to easily be restrained/tied to a fixed or movable object (e.g., a tree, pole, table, desk, bench, chair, toilet, building or other structure, fence, street sign, post, bicycle, car, or even another human, etc.) without having to disconnect the leash from the animal&#39;s or human&#39;s collar or harness. Simply by unsecuring a fastener within the handle portion, the handle portion itself can then be secured to or around an object, and adjusted to the proper length (e.g., circumference, around an object), all while maintaining control and keeping the animal or human leashed at the end opposite the handle portion end of the leash. The adjustment of the length of the handle portion may be performed prior to or subsequent to securing the handle portion to or around the object. 
     With reference to the Anthony published application mentioned above, if Anthony&#39;s handle portion was not large enough to fit around an object (e.g., a tree), a remaining portion of the leash would have been unbuckled from the animal and the remaining portion would itself be used to secure the leash around the object leaving little slack for re-securement of the animal to the leash. At the same time, such re-securement would often result in an improper use of slack that could be very detrimental to the securing of an animal to an object. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The detailed description will refer to the following drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a handle portion and an exemplary adjustment device of a leash, with an exemplary handle portion fastening system of the handle portion releasably secured. The adjustment device includes an adjustment device fastening system which is positioned at an intermediate portion between the handle portion and an elongated main portion of the leash. The handle portion is formed in a loop while the handle portion fastening system is releasably secured; 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating the handle portion and adjustment device shown in  FIG. 1 , with the handle portion fastening system unsecured; 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating the handle portion and adjustment device shown in  FIG. 1 , with the loop having a length which is larger than a length of the loop in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating another embodiment of a diagram illustrating a handle portion and an exemplary adjustment device of a leash, with an exemplary handle portion fastening system releasably secured. The adjustment device is positioned at or adjacent to an intermediate portion (which is positioned between the handle portion and an elongated main portion of the leash) and/or is positioned along a first strap or a second strap of the handle portion. The handle portion is formed in a loop while the handle portion fastening system is releasably secured; 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating the handle portion and adjustment device shown in  FIG. 4 , with the loop wrapped around a tree trunk; and 
         FIG. 6  is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a method of securing an animal or person to an object using a leash. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     It is to be understood that the figures and descriptions of the present invention may have been simplified to illustrate elements that are relevant for a clear understanding of the present invention, while eliminating, for purposes of clarity, other elements found in a typical leash or typical method of securing an animal or human to an object using a leash. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that other elements may be desirable and/or required in order to implement the present invention. However, because such elements are well known in the art, and because they do not facilitate a better understanding of the present invention, a discussion of such elements is not provided herein. It is also to be understood that the drawings included herewith only provide diagrammatic representations of the presently preferred structures of the present invention and that structures falling within the scope of the present invention may include structures different than those shown in the drawings. Reference will now be made to the drawings wherein like structures are provided with like reference designations. 
     Embodiments are directed to an animal or human leash that includes a length-adjustable loop-shaped handle portion having a handle portion fastening system and methods of using same. The length adjustability of the loop-shaped handle portion may be performed manually or mechanically. 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , shown is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a handle portion  110  and an exemplary adjustment device  125  of a leash  100 , with an exemplary handle portion fastening system  117  of the handle portion  110  releasably secured. The adjustment device  125  includes an adjustment device fastening system  126  (shown in block form in  FIGS. 1-3 ) which is positioned at an intermediate portion  120  between the handle portion  110  and an elongated main portion  130  of the leash  100 . The handle portion  110 , intermediate portion  120 , and/or the elongated main portion  130  may be integral with each other or may be separately connected portions. The handle portion  110  is formed in a loop while the handle portion fastening system  117  is releasably secured.  FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating the handle portion  110  and adjustment device  125  shown in  FIG. 1 , with the handle portion fastening system  117  unsecured. 
     In  FIG. 1 , a leash  100  having a first end and a second end is provided. The leash includes an elongated main portion  130  which includes a main portion fastening system  238  ( FIG. 5 ) positioned at the first end of the leash  100 , wherein the main portion fastening system  238  is configured to be releasably secured to an animal or human/person (not shown) via a collar or harness of (or via directly to) the animal or person for purposes of, for example, walking, exercising, controlling, restraining, guiding, etc. The main portion fastening system  238  may include an item selected from the group consisting of a buckle, D-ring, snap, button, clasp, clip, hook and loop fastener, and combinations thereof. The main portion fastening system  238  may alternatively include a loop that surrounds the animal or person, partly or entirely for securement purposes. The main portion fastening system  238  may allow for easy, safe tethering to, for example, a dog for walking about or exercising. 
     The leash  100  also includes an intermediate portion  120  and a handle portion  110  extending from the second end of the leash  100  towards the first end of the leash  100 , wherein the intermediate portion  120  is positioned between the main portion  130  and the handle portion  110 . The handle portion  110  includes a handle portion fastening system  117  at a distance from the intermediate portion  120 . Alternatively, handle portion fastening system  117  may be positioned at or adjacent to the intermediate portion  120 . 
     The handle portion fastening system  117  includes a first mating device  118  and a second mating device  119  complementary to the first mating device  118  such that the first mating device  118  is configured to be releasably secured to the second mating device  119 . The first mating device  118  and/or the second mating device  119  may include an item selected from the group consisting of a buckle, D-ring, snap, button, clasp, clip, hook and loop fastener, and combinations thereof. The first mating device  118  may be, for example, a clasp while the second mating device  119  may be, for example, a complementary hook or ring that is capable of being mated with the clasp. 
     The handle portion  110  further includes a first strap  111  terminating at the first mating device  118  and a second strap  112  terminating at the second mating device  119 . The handle portion  110  is configured to be formed into a loop when the first mating device  118  is releasably secured to the second mating device  119 . The handle portion fastening system  117  may be configured to allow for releasable securement of the loop to or around an object (such as a tree  290  in  FIG. 5 ) prior to or subsequent to the length adjustment to the loop (described below). It is noted that the hook or ring mentioned above may alternatively be provided directly at the intermediate portion (i.e., without second strap  112  therebetween) or at a distance from the intermediate portion via, for example, at an end of second strap  112  as per  FIGS. 1-3 . 
     The leash  100  further includes an adjustment device  125  configured to allow for adjustments to a length of the handle portion  110  such that the loop is length-adjustable.  FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating the handle portion and adjustment device shown in  FIG. 1 , with the loop having a length which is larger than a length of the loop in  FIG. 1 . 
     At the handle portion  110 , an animal owner, animal walker/controller, or human walker/controller (i.e., when the controlling/restraining/tethering is done to another human) may insert his or her hand or fingers thereof for comfortable walking of the animal or other human. With this improvement (especially over the not-so-easily adjustable earlier variation mentioned above by Anthony&#39;s U.S. Published Patent Application No. 2012/0255506), the owner/walker/controller may now further secure his/her animal or other human to a fixed or movable object without ever having to disconnect the leash from the animal&#39;s or human&#39;s collar or harness. In the case of a fixed object, tethering is possible by people of all abilities and strengths, as now the fixed object does not have to be moved or lifted during the tethering procedure. Current tethering options include a leash permanently fixed to an immovable object such as a backyard tether; a dog run in which one end of the leash is attached to a cable and the opposite end to the dog collar; and disconnecting the leash from the dog collar for wrapping the leash around and about a fixed object, before reconnecting a clasp to a hook end in the same hand component end of the leash/lead. 
     The adjustment device  125  may include an adjustment device fastening system  126  positioned at the intermediate portion  120 , wherein the first strap  111  and the second strap  112  extend from the adjustment device fastening system  126 . The adjustment device fastening system  126  is fixedly positioned relative to the first strap  111  (or second strap  112 ) and is configured to be releasably secured to one of multiple portions along the length of the second strap  112  (or first strap  111 ) thereby allowing for the adjustability to the length of the loop. The adjustment device fastening system  126  may include an item selected from the group consisting of a buckle, D-ring, snap, button, clip, hook and loop fastener, and combinations thereof. 
     In an embodiment, adjustment device fastening system  126  may be a strap/belt-sliding adjustment buckle provided and fixed to the intermediate portion  120  of  FIGS. 1-3 . By feeding more or less hand portion strap through the buckle, the overall length of the wrap around part (i.e., loop) may be manually shortened or extended, respectively. After a loop is wrapped around an object, the loop may be pulled tight or tighter thereafter by manually feeding more strap through the buckle. The excess portion of the strap pulled through the buckle results in excess strap portion  133  as also shown in  FIGS. 1-3 . This process may be repeated until sufficient slack in the loop around an object (e.g., a tree) is achieved. The buckle may be of any type such as buckle 120 or buckle 225 in U.S. Pat. No. 8,714,114 issued to Wang et al. 
     With reference to  FIG. 4 , shown is a diagram illustrating another embodiment of a handle portion  210  and an exemplary adjustment device  225  (or  225 ′ shown in phantom) of a leash  200 , with an exemplary handle portion fastening system  217  releasably secured. The adjustment device may be positioned at or adjacent to an intermediate portion  220  (which is positioned between the handle portion  210  and an elongated main portion  230  of the leash  200 ) and/or is positioned along a first strap  211   a  or a second strap  212  of the handle portion  210 . The handle portion  210  is formed in a loop while the handle portion fastening system  217  is releasably secured.  FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating the handle portion  210  and adjustment device  225 ,  225 ′ shown in  FIG. 4 , with the loop wrapped around a trunk of a tree  290 . 
     The adjustment device  225 ,  225 ′ may be positioned at or adjacent to the intermediate portion  220  and/or may be positioned along the first strap  211   a  or the second strap  212 . The adjustment device  225 ,  225 ′ may be, for example, a retractable strap dispenser  226 ,  226 ′ configured to retractably release additional strap  211   b  in various lengths, the additional strap  211   b  forming part of the handle portion  210 , thereby allowing for the adjustments to the length of the handle portion  210  and the length adjustability of the loop. The retractable strap dispenser  226  may be positioned anywhere along either the first strap  211   a  or second strap  212  at a distance from the intermediate portion  220 . First strap  211   a  and second strap  212  extend and branch off from intermediate portion  220  at location  228 . The retractable strap dispenser  226 ′ may alternatively be located at or substantially adjacent to the intermediate portion  220  with little or no first strap  211   a  positioned between the retractable strap dispenser  226 ′ and the intermediate portion  220 . 
     The retractable strap dispenser  226 ,  226 ′ may include a locking system  227 ,  227 ′ configured to temporarily lock the additional strap  211   b  in place when the additional strap  211   b  is released to a desirable length, thereby allowing for temporary fixation of the length of the loop. The locking system  227 ,  227 ′ may be an actuator such as a switch, button, slide, etc. and may keep the additional strap  211   b  locked in place when the actuator is depressed and later released, requiring another pressing/releasing of the actuator to disengage the release the additional strap  211   b . Alternatively, the additional strap  211   b  may be locked in place only when the actuator is actively depressed. As another alternative, the locking system  227 ,  227 ′ may alternatively function in the reverse manner where the additional strap  211   b  is by default locked in place and is temporarily released only when the actuator is actively depressed. 
     Retractable strap dispenser  226 ,  226 ′ may be a mechanical retracting cartridge through which leash/lead webbing (or other material) forming the additional strap  211   b  is extended therefrom. The retractable strap dispenser  226 ,  226 ′ and locking system  227 ,  227 ′ may be, for example, the types used in U.S. Pat. No. 6,148,773 issued to Bogdahn. The locking system in Bogdahn is activated by a “brake key” 9 which may also be employed. A locking mechanism such as the “brake key locking mechanism” 2 in Bogdahn may additionally be employed to lock the locking system  227 ,  227 ′ in place (i.e., when the locking system  227 ,  227 ′ is of the type that doesn&#39;t itself lock in place). 
     Additional strap  211   b  may be pulled from the cartridge for fitting around a portion of or an entire tree trunk as needed. Then, by pressing an optional retraction button, the additional strap  211   b  may be re-spooled for “shrinking” the wrapped-around element (i.e., loop) to a more preferred, more manageable, less slacking size/length. When the pet/animal mounting/tethering/hitching period has ended, that same button (or, alternatively, another button) can be hit once more for releasing a sufficient amount of “extra” webbing (thereby lengthening additional strap  211   b ) to safely, yet comfortably free the leashed animal or human from about the object. Afterwards, the extra “slack” for releasing may be re-retracted back into the cartridge for comfortable storage until it is needed the next time.  FIGS. 4 and 5  show the retractable strap dispenser  226  extending from one end of a split handle portion which includes strap  211   a . The retractable cartridge/box may lock in place and/or release extra strap therefrom for expanding the range about which the handle portion may be extended for wrapping about a larger/thicker object such as a tree trunk as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     The handle portion fastening system  217  includes a first mating device  218  and a second mating device  219  complementary to the first mating device  218  such that the first mating device  218  is configured to be releasably secured to the second mating device  219 . The first mating device  218  and/or the second mating device  219  may include an item selected from the group consisting of a buckle, D-ring, snap, button, clasp, clip, hook and loop fastener, and combinations thereof. 
     In an embodiment, the first mating device  218  may be a clasp and the second mating device  219  may be a hook or ring that is capable of being mated with the clasp. The handle portion fastening system  217  may be configured to allow for releasable securement of the loop to or around an object (such as tree  290  in  FIG. 5 ) prior to or subsequent to the length adjustment to the loop. 
     With reference to  FIG. 6 , shown is a flowchart illustrating another embodiment of a method  300  of securing an animal or person to an object using a leash. The method  300  of securing an animal or person to an object using a leash having a first end and a second end is provided. The method includes: detaching a first mating device from a second mating device (block  302 ), wherein the first mating device and the second mating device are included in a handle portion of the leash and wherein the handle portion includes a first strap terminating at the first mating device and a second strap terminating at the second mating device; wrapping one or both of the first strap and the second strap at least partly around the object (block  304 ); releasably securing the first mating device to the second mating device such that the handle portion forms a loop at least partly around the object (block  306 ); and adjusting, using an adjustment device, a length of at least one of the first strap or the second strap to thereby adjust a length of the loop (block  308 ), while the loop is formed at least partly around the object. The steps of detaching, wrapping, releasably securing, and adjusting may all performed while a main portion fastening system of an elongated main portion of the leash is releasably secured to the animal or person, wherein the elongated main portion extends from the first end of the leash towards the second end of the leash, and wherein the handle portion extends from the second end of the leash towards the first end of the leash. The step of releasably securing the first mating device to the second mating device may be performed prior to or subsequent to the step of adjusting. 
     In an embodiment, the adjustment device includes an adjustment device fastening system positioned at an intermediate portion positioned between the handle portion and the elongated main portion, and wherein the first strap and the second strap extend from the adjustment device fastening system. The adjustment device fastening system may be fixedly positioned relative to the first strap. The method may further include releasably securing the adjustment device fastening system to one of multiple portions along the length of the second strap thereby allowing for the adjustability to the length of the loop. The adjustment device fastening system may include an item selected from the group consisting of a buckle, D-ring, snap, button, clasp, clip, hook and loop fastener, and combinations thereof. 
     In an embodiment, the adjustment device may be positioned at or adjacent to an intermediate portion positioned between the handle portion and the elongated main portion and/or is positioned along the first strap or the second strap. The adjustment device may be a retractable strap dispenser. The method may further include retractably releasing, using the retractable strap dispenser, additional strap in various lengths, the additional strap forming part of the handle portion, thereby adjusting the length of the handle portion whereby the length of the loop is adjusted. The retractable strap dispenser may include a locking system. The method may further include temporarily locking, using the locking system, the additional strap in place when the additional strap is released to a desirable length, thereby temporarily fixing the length of the loop. 
     Without any of the embodiments described above, it is quite difficult to tether a connected pet/animal or human, let alone tether a connected pet/animal or human at a moment&#39;s notice. Embodiments herein allow the animal owner or animal/human walker to quickly yet safely secure his/her pet/animal (or other human) anywhere the owner/walker desires, with ease. Simply unsecure (e.g., unclasp) the handle portion fastening system located in the handle portion of the leash; and reconnect the clasping end to a fixed hook or ring in the same handle portion. Unlike the prior leash in Anthony&#39;s published application mentioned above, the overall loop length of the embodiments above may be manually adjusted (per  FIGS. 1-3 ) or mechanically lengthened and retracted per the webbing cartridge shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . The animal or human is now better secured to a fixed or movable object and some or all slack in the leash removed therefrom without ever having to disconnect and subsequently reconnect the leash to the animal&#39;s or human&#39;s collar or harness. 
     In any of the embodiments above, any or all of straps  111 ,  112 ,  211   a ,  212 , and even additional strap  211   b , may be composed of any suitable flexible material having sufficient tensile strength in order to control, restrain or tether the animal or human to an object without breaking, such as webbing, cord, chain, cable, string, wire, cloth, nylon, leather, or combinations thereof. The main portion and/or intermediate portion may also be composed of similar material. 
     Although embodiments are described above with reference to a leash being tethered to an animal or human via a collar or harness that is worn by the animal or human, the leash described in any of the above embodiments may alternatively be tethered to the animal or human via other intermediary device or may even be tethered to the animal or human directly, i.e., without an intermediary device, and may therefore utilize the advantages of the configurations and embodiments described above. 
     More generally, even though the present disclosure and exemplary embodiments are described above with reference to the examples according to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that they are not restricted thereto. Rather, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that the disclosed embodiments can be modified in many ways without departing from the scope of the disclosure herein. Moreover, the terms and descriptions used herein are set forth by way of illustration only and are not meant as limitations. Those skilled in the art will recognize that many variations are possible within the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined in the following claims, and their equivalents, in which all terms are to be understood in their broadest possible sense unless otherwise indicated.