Patent Publication Number: US-2021161103-A1

Title: Pet leash

Description:
FIELD 
     The aspects of the disclosed embodiments relate to an apparatus for running, leading, or walking a pet, such as a dog, specifically a dog leash. Specifically, the presently described apparatus can be used to walk or run with a dog and is held by the pet handler. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Running or walking a dog with a dog leash is a common and socially required practice when out. A dog even if on a leash, is inherently prone to sudden running movements, which may come as a surprise to the dog or pet handler. These sudden movements from the dog, when on a standard leash can also be harmful to the pet handler, including the potential for severe injury from a fall, or dislocation of the shoulder, should the force of the dog be significant. 
     Alternative leashes on the market that partially address this problem are retractable leashes, meaning a thin rope is spooled into a plastic handle, and the handler has the ability to reel the dog back in case it wanders too far. These leashes typically allow a dog to go 15 to 25 feet away from the handler. These leashes while partly serving the purpose are however designed with the primary intent of giving the pet more freedom, as against any protection against sudden pressure to the pet handler, or any effect that prevents the dog from the attempt of wanting to sprint away further. 
     Thus, there is a need for a dog leash that addresses the issue of sudden pressure from a dog&#39;s attempt to run and creates a resistance to the force, that decreases the sudden pressure on the pet handler, thereby preventing falls and injuries. In addition, there is need for a dog leash that delivers a counter pressure on the dog thereby potentially encouraging the dog to curb its urge to sprint away. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an apparatus that addresses at least some of the problems described above. 
     SUMMARY 
     The aspects of the disclosed embodiments are directed to a leash for an animal such as a dog. The aspects of the disclosed embodiments provide a leash that can absorb the sudden pressure that may be applied to the leash if the animal tugs or tries to run. This and other objectives are addressed by the subject matter of the independent claim. Further advantageous modifications can be found in the dependent claims. 
     According to a first aspect, the above and further objectives and advantages are obtained by a leash. In one embodiment, the leash is made from a ribbon or rope made of nylon/fabric attached to one or more plastic casing components containing springs which attaches to the dog collar and a belt system that goes around the waist/torso section of the dog. 
     In a possible implementation form, the ribbon/rope attaches to a handle to be held by the dog walker. The plastic casing that encloses the spring mechanism is to be used to prevent a reactionary force due to the dog suddenly lunging forward too far or too fast. The ribbon/rope and the plastic casing are attached with interlocking rings or hooks and loops. 
     In a possible implementation form, the original leash attaches to the dog collar, and the secondary connection is to be the first method to prevent the dog from suddenly lunging forward too far or too fast. 
     In a possible implementation form, the springs in the leash expand as the dog starts to move away from the handler, such that the handler has time to react to the dog&#39;s speed. The belt mechanism attached to the leash is attached to the spring mechanism such that if the dog does decide to run suddenly, the belt will pull on the dog itself, thus creating an effect of the handler pulling back, dissuading the dog from running forward. If the dog continues to persist and the spring mechanism closest to the dog is fully expanded, the leash has a second spring in the plain ribbon/rope section to allow more time for the dog handler to react. 
     In a possible implementation form, the hand grip for the handler will be a normal grip into which a palm can fit snugly. The hand grip will be made of a combination of plastic and rubber materials. 
     These and other aspects, implementation forms, and advantages of the exemplary embodiments will become apparent from the embodiments described herein considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the description and drawings are designed solely for purposes of illustration and not as a definition of the limits of the disclosed invention, for which reference should be made to the appended claims. Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description that follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Moreover, the aspects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the following detailed portion of the present disclosure, the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the example embodiments shown in the drawings, in which like references indicate like elements and: 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a dog being walked with a leash incorporating aspects of the disclosed embodiments. The blow-up bubble depicts the spring mechanisms of the leash. 
         FIG. 2  shows how the leash and the belt system are connected between the leash and the dog. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic illustration of a leash incorporating aspects of the disclosed embodiments. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic illustration of a handle mechanism for a leash incorporating aspects of the disclosed embodiments. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic illustration of a first section of the leash shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic illustration of a second section for the leash shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic illustration of an exemplary spring mechanism for the leash incorporating aspects of the disclosed embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  a leash system or leash  100  incorporating aspects of the disclosed embodiments is illustrated. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the leash  100  comprises a handle member  102 , a first or upper spring mechanism  104   a , a connection member  108  to connect the leash  100  to a belt system  112 , a second or lower spring member  104   b  and a connection member  110  to connect the leash  100  and the pet collar. The call-out illustrates aspects of the upper and lower spring mechanisms  104   a ,  104   b . Although the example of  FIG. 1  shows two spring mechanisms  104   a ,  104   b , the aspects of the disclosed embodiments are not so limited. In alternate embodiments, the leash  100  can include any number of spring mechanisms other than including two. For example, the leash  100  could include only one spring mechanism or more than two spring mechanisms. The terms “upper” and “lower” when referring to the spring mechanisms  104   a ,  104   b  is merely for illustrative purposes. 
     In the example of  FIG. 1 , the handle member  102  is connected to the first spring member  104   a  with a connection member or ring assembly  114 . Another connection member or ring assembly  116  connects the first spring member  104   a  with a leash member  106 . The leash member  106  is configured to connect to the connection member  108 . A further connection member or ring assembly  118  can be used to connect the spring mechanism  104   b  to the pet collar. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates another example of the leash  100  incorporating aspects of the disclosed embodiments. In this example, belt system  112  is in the form of an around the body belt  112  for the dog. The leash  100  includes or is connected to the around the body belt  112  for the dog. The call-out in  FIG. 2  illustrates an exemplary connection member  108  that can be used to connect or couple the body belt  112  to the other components of the leash  100 , as will be further described herein. 
     The leash of the disclosed embodiments is configured to absorb the forces that might be generated when the animal connected to the leash exerts a pulling force, rather than the handler having to directly counteract such pulling forces. The force that may be applied to the handler is reduced as is the force that might also be applied to the neck of the animal while pulling on the leash, for example. While the pet will be able to move away from the handler, the spring mechanisms  104   a ,  104   b  and the belt system  112  should attempt to dissuade the pet from such actions. When such a pulling force is applied, there will be an application of resistance or counterforce from the spring mechanisms  104   a  and  104   b  embedded within the leash  100 . 
     For example, in one embodiment where a dog is connected to the leash, as the dog pulls away from the pet handler, the spring mechanism  104   b  will first expand and also apply a resisting force to the around the body belt  112 . Once the spring mechanism  104   b  is fully expanded, the other spring mechanism  104   a  will start expanding, thus preventing an immediate pressure or force from being transferred to the pet handler. The force applied to the handler will be reduced and the handler will also have more time to react, before both the spring mechanisms  104   a  and  104   b  are fully expanded. Thus, in the event the pet pulls on the leash  100 , the leash  100  of the disclosed embodiments prevents harm to both the pet and the pet handler such that the pet will not be choked by the leash and the handler will not fall forward or sustain an injury to the shoulder. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an example of an exemplary leash assembly  300  incorporating aspects of the disclosed embodiments. In this example, the leash assembly includes a leash handle member  302  on one end and a pet collar  324  on the other end. Disposed in-between the handle member  302  and the collar  324  is a first spring mechanism  104   a  and a second spring mechanism  104   b.    
     Referring also to  FIG. 4 , in one embodiment, the handle member  302  is in the form of a loop and is attached to a belt member  304 . In one embodiment, the handle  302  and belt member  304  is made of a leather material. In alternate embodiments any suitable material or fabric can be used other than including leather. In one embodiment, the belt member  304  is looped through the connection member  306  and sewed in place. 
     The belt member  304  connects to the rest of the leash  100  via the connection member  306 , also referred to as ring and bolt assembly  306 . The ring and bolt assembly  306  includes a metal ring  402  and bolt mechanism  406 . The metal ring  402  includes a hole or opening to allow the bolt  406  to be inserted into and retained therein by end member  404 . The bolt  406  enables the ring  402  to be connected to another ring assembly or member  308 . 
     In the example of  FIG. 4 , the other ring  308  includes a suitable opening that allows the bolt  406  to pass through and then be retained therein by end member  408 . The ring and bolt assembly  306  is configured to enable the bolt  406  to rotate or swivel in conjunction with the movements of the leash  100 . 
     Referring also to  FIG. 4 , in one embodiment, the ring  308  has an opening or gap  410  which through an end of the belt member  310  can be looped and retained. The belt member  310 , which can be leather or such other suitable fabric, is used to connect the leash handle portion  102  to the rest of the components of the leash  100 . 
     The gap  410  shown in  FIG. 4  is configured to be closed by a latch  412 , which is connected to the ring  308  via a rivet  414 . Closing the latch  412  closes the gap  410  and secures the ring  308 . This prevents the belt member  310  from coming off. 
     Referring also to  FIG. 5 , an example of the attachment of the spring mechanism  104   a  is illustrated. In this example, the spring mechanism  104   a  is disposed within a stretchable fabric casing  502 . A rod or bolt member  504  is also secured to or within the stretchable fabric casing  502 . In one embodiment, rivets  506  can be used to secure the bolt member  504  to the fabric casing  502 . The bolt  504  is also connected to the ring  312 . The ring  312  can include a corresponding opening that is configured to receive the bolt  504  and secure the bolt  504  to the ring  312  via the end member  508 . The bolt  504  allows some rotation or swivelling of the ring  312 . The ring  312  connects to the previous sections of the leash  100  and ring member  308  via the belt member  310 . 
     The spring mechanism  104   a  connects to the next section of the leash  100  via a metal ring  316 . The ring  316  includes an opening that is configured to receive and secure the rod or bolt  504 . End member  510  is configured to secure the bolt member  504  to the ring member  316  is a rotatable fashion, similar to the other bolt and ring member connections described herein. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , lower portion of the leash  300  is illustrated that includes the other spring mechanism  104   b . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the spring mechanism  104   b  is attached to the upper sections of the leash  300  via the ring  316 . The spring mechanism  104   b  is similar to spring mechanism  104   a  described above. 
     With reference also to  FIG. 1 , the spring mechanism  104   b  is connected to a belt section  112  that is configured to go around the animal. The spring mechanism  104   b  and the belt section  112  are coupled or connected to each other and to the rest of the leash  100  via the ring  316 . A small connection section  326  made of plastic or rubber material may be used to connect one end of the spring mechanism  104   b  to the belt section  112 . The spring mechanism  104   b  then connects to the dog collar  324  via another ring  320  and belt section  322 . The ring  320  is similar to the ring  308  described above with respect to  FIG. 4 . The ring  320  can also include a gap and latch member to secure the belt member  322  to the ring  320 . In this example, one end of bolt member  602  is connected to the connection section  326 , and the other end of bolt member  602  is connected to the ring member  320 , in a similar manner as earlier described. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , one example of a spring mechanism  700  incorporating aspects of the disclosed embodiments is illustrated. The spring mechanism  700  incorporates the features of spring mechanisms  104   a ,  104   b  described herein. As shown in  FIG. 7 , the spring mechanism  700  comprises multiple sets of spring members  702 ,  704 , such as metal springs, that are built so that they expand in sections in a cascaded manner. A set  702   a ,  704   a  of springs is connected to a next set  702   b ,  74   b  via rings  706  and rods  708 . The sets  702 ,  704  can include any suitable number of springs  702   n ,  704   n , to provide the desired or required amount of force and resistance. In one embodiment, the spring mechanism  700  is configured to be removable and re-insertable into a desired section of the leash  100 . In this manner, additional spring mechanisms  700  can be added to the spring mechanisms  104   a ,  104   b , or removed from the leash  100 . 
     The aspects of the disclosed embodiments are directed to a leash made from normal rope or other material such as leather, with housing sections containing springs which attach to the dog collar and a belt system that goes around the waist/torso section of the dog. The original leash attaches to the dog collar, and the secondary connection is to be the first method to prevent the dog from suddenly lunging forward too far or too fast. 
     The springs in the leash expand slowly as the dog starts to move away from the handler, such that the handler has time to react to the dog&#39;s speed. The belt mechanism attached to the leash is positioned such that if the dog does decide to run suddenly, the belt will pull on the dog as if the handler is pulling back, dissuading the dog from running forward. If the dog continues to persist, the leash has a second spring to allow more time for the handler to react. The hand grip for the handler can be either the normal grip or the same plastic structure of the retractable leash. 
     Thus, while there have been shown, described and pointed out, fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to the exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form and details of devices and methods illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the presently disclosed invention. Further, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements, which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results, are within the scope of the invention. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or embodiment of the invention may be incorporated in any other disclosed or described or suggested form or embodiment as a general matter of design choice. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.