Patent Publication Number: US-2017367300-A1

Title: Hands free pet walking device

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to a device for use with a pet and more specifically, but without limitation, to a hands free pet walking device. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Many people walk their pets every day. During these walks, leashes allow individuals to restraint their pets. In addition, many municipalities may require that certain pets (e.g., dogs) be on leaches when the are walked in public. Generally a hand held chain, strap, cord, etc., is used for controlling or leading a dog or other animal while walking or running. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The disclosure will be understood more fully from the detailed description given below and from the accompanying drawings of various embodiments of the disclosure. The drawings, however, should not be taken to limit the disclosure to the specific embodiments, but are for explanation and understanding only. 
         FIG. 1  is an illustration of an example of a hands free pet waking device in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of a hands free device in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2B  is another view of the hands free device of  FIG. 2A  in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2C  is another view of the hands free device of  FIG. 2A  in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2D  is another view of the hands free device of  FIG. 2A  in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is an illustration of another example of a hands free pet waking device in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a hands free pet walking device, which enables a person to walk their pet without having to hold a leash. Generally, when walking, jogging or running with a pet, a person&#39;s movements are limited by holding the leash within their hand. In some situations, a person may have suffered a type of arm or hand injury that limits their ability to control the pet without fear of being re-injured. For example, the person may have experienced a rotator cuff injury that makes it difficult to walk a pet or multiple pets using hand leaches. In such cases, the person may have difficulty in controlling the pet, if the pet suddenly jerks, jumps or pulls on the leash. 
     In accordance with the disclosure, the hands free pet walking device is provided for use with one or more pets or animals. In some implementations, the hands free pet walking device includes a restraining device (e.g., leash) for restraining a pet and a belt releasably coupled to the leash. For example, the belt may include a belt-loop assembly that can receive and hold onto a handle portion of the restraining device. The belt is sized to fit around the waist of a person while the leash is attached to a collar of the pet. The device enables the person to freely move with their pet without using their hands. This allows the person to maintain control of the one or more pets, such as during walking activities, while minimizing any impact on that person. 
     The present disclosure relates to a device for performing the operations herein. In the following description, numerous details are set forth. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that the present disclosure may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form, rather than in detail, in order to avoid obscuring the present disclosure. 
       FIG. 1  is an illustration of an example of a hands free pet waking device  100  in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. The hands free pet waking device  100  provides for secure retention of one or more pets, such as pet  101 , to a user  103 . In some implementations, the device  100  includes a restraining device  105  (e.g., a leash) and a belt  110  attached to the restraining device  105 . The device  100  is for use with the pet  101 , such as a dog or cat, in a manner that allows the user  103  to control or otherwise restrain the pet  101  without having to use their hands. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , one end of the restraining device  105  is coupled to the pet  101 . For example, restraining device  105  may be coupled to a collar wrapped around the pet  101 . In some implementations, the restraining device  105  may include a type of latch (not shown) that can engage and disengage from the collar of the pet  101 . The other end of the restraining device  105  may be coupled to the belt  110 . For example, a handle end of the restraining device  105  may be coupled to a belt-loop assembly  120  of the belt  110 . Although, only one belt-loop assembly  120  is shown in device  100  for simplicity, the device  100  may include a plurality of belt-loop assemblies. For example, additional belt-loop assemblies, such as belt-loop assembly  120 , may be attached to the belt  100 . Each belt-loop assembly  120  may be adapted to hold an additional restraining device, such as restraining device  105 , in order to accommodate additional pets to control with the device  100  during certain outdoor/indoor activities (e.g., walking, jogging, etc.). 
     To secure the restraining device  105  to the belt-loop assembly  120 , the device  100  may include a type of fastener (not shown). The fastener is adapted to releasably couple the belt loop assembly  120  to a surface of the belt  110 . For example, the fastener may be attached to the belt loop assembly  120  and the surface of the belt  110  and is configured to be opened and closed. If the fastener is in an open position, the handle end of the restraining device  105  may pass through the belt-loop assembly  120 . If the fastener is in a closed position, the handle portion of the restraining device  105  is held securely within the belt-loop assembly  120  of the belt  110  so that the person may freely move with their pet without using their hands to control the pet. 
       FIGS. 2A-2D  are perspective views of a hands free device  200  in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. The hands free device  200  may be compared to the hands free pet waking device  100  of  FIG. 1 . For example, the hands free device  200  comprises a belt  210  (which may be compared to belt  110  of  FIG. 1 ) and a belt-loop assembly  220  (which may be compared to belt-loop assembly  120  of  FIG. 1 ) attached to the belt  210 . In some implementations, the belt-loop assembly  220  is adapted to hold a restraining device (not shown), such as a leash, which is attached to a pet. 
     Turning to  FIG. 2A , the belt  210  can be sized to fit around the waist of a user. For example, the belt  210  may include catch or other type of clasp (not shown) that can be adjusted as necessary for various sized users to wear the belt comfortably. In alternative implementations, the belt  210  may be constructed in various sizes for particular shaped users. In some implementations, the belt  210  is comprised of a number of different types of materials that provide flexibility as well as a level of tensile strength. In one implementation, the belt  210  may be comprised of leather of a certain thickness or other types of materials of similar properties. 
     The belt-loop assembly  220  may be comprised of a number of different types of materials that may be similar or different from the material used to construct the belt  210 . For example, the belt-loop assembly  220  may be comprised of a material that provides flexibility as well as a level of tensile strength, such as leather. In some implementations, the belt-loop assembly  220  can be constructed at the same time as the belt  210 . In an alternative implementation, the belt-loop assembly  220  can be constructed at a different time and later attached to the belt  210 . 
     In some implementations, the belt-loop assembly  220  can be of a certain size to accommodate a restraining device, such as a leash, for restraining a pet (e.g., a dog). For example, the belt-loop assembly  220  may be sized so that a handle portion of the restraining device can be held within a cavity  215  created between the belt-loop assembly  220  and the belt  210 . In alternative implementations, one or more restraining devices can be held by the belt-loop assembly  220  within the cavity  215 . Preferably, there is one restraining device for each the belt-loop assembly  220  attached to the belt  210 . 
     To attach the belt-loop assembly  220  to the belt  220 , various manufacturing methods can be used. For example, the belt-loop assembly  220  can be attached to the belt  220  using a type of stitching or threading. In the regard, a connector  227  (e.g., threading) may be used to attach the belt  220  and the belt-loop assembly  220 . In one implementation, the belt  220  is threaded through with the connector  227  and then secured to the belt-loop assembly  220 . In alternative implementations, the belt  220  can be manufactured so that one end of the belt-loop assembly  220  is permanently attached or part of the belt  210 . 
     In some implementations, the hands free device  200  also includes a fastener assembly  230 . The fastener is adapted to releasably couple the belt loop assembly  210  to the belt  210 . In that regard, a first portion of the fastener assembly  230  may be attached to a surface  240  of the belt  210 . On an opposite side of the belt  210 , a second portion of the fastener assembly  230  is disposed. 
     Turning to  FIG. 2B , another view  240  of the hands free device  200 . Here, a second portion  235  of the fastener assembly  230  is shown disposed thereon. In one implementation, the first portion of the fastener assembly  230  is arranged for mating connection to the second portion  235 . When the first portion and the second portion  235  of the fastener assembly  230  are engaged, such as by pressing the two together, the hands free device  200  is situated in a closed position. In the closed position, the opening  215  in the belt loop assembly  210  is closed so that the handled of the restraining device is secured therein. Conversely, if the first portion and the second portion  235  of the fastener assembly  230  are separated or pulled apart, the hands free device  200  is then situated in an open position. In the open position, the opening  215  in the belt loop assembly  210  is open so that the handle of the restraining device can be removed or placed therein. 
     With regards to  FIG. 2C , another view  270  of the hands free device  200  of  FIG. 2A  is shown. In this example, the hands free device  200  is illustrated in an open position. For example, the mating components of the fastener assembly  230  (e.g., the first and second the portions  233 ,  235 ) are shown separated or disengaged. In this regard, the mating components of the fastener assembly  230  may include different type of buttons, clasps, fasteners, etc., that can be repeatedly separated and mated together. As noted above, when the hands free device  200  is situated in an open position, this open position allows a restraining device (for restraining a pet) to pass through of the fastener assembly  230  so as to be placed therein. 
     Turning to  FIG. 2D , another view  280  of the hands free device  200  of  FIG. 2A  is shown. As shown, the hands free device  200  is situated in an open position. For example, the first and second the portions  233 ,  235  of the fastener assembly  230  are separated from each other. In this position, a first portion  281  of the belt-loop assembly  220  may remain attached to the belt  210  while a second portion  283  is disengaged from a surface of the belt  210 . 
     As noted above, the belt-loop assembly  220  is adapted to receive a handle portion of the leash. For example, when the second portion  283  of the belt-loop assembly  220  is disengaged from a surface of the belt  210 , a handle portion of the restraining device can pass through the second portion  283 . This is so that the handle of the restraining device may rest within the belt-loop assembly  220 . The second portion  283  of the belt-loop assembly  220  may then be re-engaged with the surface of the belt  210  by pressing the two together, thereby allowing a fastener, such as fastener  230 , of the hands free device  200  to be snapped in place. 
       FIG. 3  is an illustration of another example of hands free pet waking device  300  in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. The hands free pet waking device  300  may be compared to the hands free pet waking device  100  of  FIG. 1  and the hands free device  200  of  FIG. 1 . For example, the hands free pet waking device  300  comprises a belt  310  (which may be compared to belt  110  of  FIG. 1  and belt  210  of  FIG. 2 ) and a belt-loop assembly  320  (which may be compared to belt-loop assembly  120  of  FIGS. 1 and 220  of  FIG. 2 ) attached to the belt  310 . In this example, the device  300  includes a restraining device  305  (which may be compared to restraining device  105  of  FIG. 1 ), such as a leash, for restraining a pet attached thereto. 
     As shown, the belt-loop assembly  320  may be coupled to the restraining device  305 . For example, the belt-loop assembly  320  may be adapted to hold a handle portion  307  of the restraining device  305 . In some implementations, the device  300  may include additional belt-loop assemblies, such as belt-loop assembly  327 . Each belt-loop assembly may be configured to retain a restraining device, such as restraining device  305 , which is attached to an individual pet. In one implementation, the additional belt-loop assemblies, such as belt-loop assembly  320  and  327 , may be spaced along the belt  310  so that a user can attached up to four (4) pets to the belt  310 . In that regard, each belt-loop assembly may be attached to a pet that is situated on either side (e.g., left and right) of the user and the front and back of the user. 
     In some implementations, the belt  300  may comprise a printed pattern  330  or a message, such as message  340 . Similarly, the restraining device  305  may comprise a message  340  or a printed pattern, such as printed pattern  330 . The printed pattern  330  and/or message may be disposed in such a manner that allows it to be displayed as the user moves with their pet. For example, the message  340  may display inspirational words, such as “Believe”, “Just Believe” or Hope.” In other implementations, the belt  310  and/or the restraining device  305  can be manufactured in different colors and patterns to accommodate the preferences of different users. 
     Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the disclosure. Thus, the appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. 
     In the foregoing specification, a detailed description has been given with reference to specific exemplary embodiments. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the disclosure as set forth in the appended claims. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative sense rather than a restrictive sense. Furthermore, the foregoing use of embodiment and other exemplarily language does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or the same example, but may refer to different and distinct embodiments, as well as potentially the same embodiment.