Patent Publication Number: US-2022211007-A1

Title: Leash attachment

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/933,394, filed on Nov. 9, 2019, which is entitled “Leash Attachment”, U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/954,980, filed on Dec. 30, 2019, which is entitled “Leash Attachment”, U.S. Non-provisional application Ser. No. 16/813,499, filed on Mar. 9, 2020, which is entitled “Leash Attachment”, and PCT Patent Application PCT/US20/59454 filed on Nov. 6, 2020, which is entitled “Leash Attachment”, all of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety for all purposes. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable. 
     INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
     Not Applicable. 
     FIELD 
     The present teachings relate to a leash attachment that expels liquid into a built-in cup for a leashed animal to drink from. 
     INTRODUCTION 
     Owning an animal that requires a leash is no small feat. There are many issues to consider when keeping such a pet, one of which is stopping for liquid breaks while out walking, which can be a nuisance. 
     While there are current devices that provide liquid to leashed animals, their usage can be cumbersome. An ergonomically designed and easy to use device that delivers liquid to leashed animals without the owner having to stop and fumble for an alternate device or solution is ideal. This leash attachment offers hydration for the leashed animal, providing an effective solution every pet owner can appreciate. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present teachings include a leash attachment that comprises a housing that has a top surface that is downwardly angled. Within the housing is a liquid reservoir that holds a liquid. A fill hole is also in the housing and allows liquid to be added to the reservoir. A flip open cup rests on the top surface of the housing. A first pair of detents, attached to the housing, keeps the flip open cup in the non-use, or closed position. In effect, the first pair of detents keeps the flip open cup from unwantedly swinging open and outward. A trigger is connected to a dispensing mechanism that expels the liquid. A leash connects to the leash attachment through the leash hole, with a cam that secures the leash in place. A second pair of detents keeps the cam in place. When pressed, the second pair of detents releases the cam from the leash attachment. 
     In accordance with a further aspect, the dispensing mechanism comprises a body and at least one straw. When there is liquid in the liquid reservoir, depressing or deploying the trigger aspirates or sucks liquid into the at least one straw, through the body, and out through a nozzle. The liquid travels through a first end of the at least one straw and exits through a second end of the at least one straw that is connected to the nozzle. 
     In accordance with yet another aspect, the housing comprises a grip that allows a user to easily grasp the leash attachment. The grip makes it easier to deploy the trigger while still holding the leash attachment. 
     In accordance with yet another aspect, the flip open cup swings outward to an open position. From the open position, the flip open cup can be filled by liquid coming from the nozzle. 
     In accordance with yet another aspect, the cam is a rolling structure that is positioned within the leash hole. A leash inserted through the leash hole rolls along ridges of the cam, securing the leash. 
     In accordance with yet another aspect, the top surface of the housing is angled downward. The angle downward is between 15 and 45 degrees in relation to the ground when the leash attachment is held by the user. The flip open cup rests on the angled portion of the housing when in the closed position, or when not in use. 
     Any type of leash, with the exception of chain link and retractable leashes, can be accommodated by the leash attachment as long as it fits through the leash hole. Leashes made of leather, nylon, or rope are all suitable. The leash attachment can remain on the leash or be easily removed from the leash. 
     In accordance with yet another aspect, the trigger is connected to the dispensing mechanism; a body and at least one straw comprise the dispensing mechanism. Depressing or deploying the trigger sucks liquid into a first end of the at least one straw, through the body and out through a second end of the at least one straw, which is connected to the nozzle. The liquid that exits the nozzle is expelled into the flip open cup when the flip open cup is in the open position. The liquid is expelled towards the distal end of the flip open cup (i.e. the part of the flip open cup farthest away from the user when the flip open cup is in the open position). The liquid exiting the nozzle can also be directed at the leashed animal, at another animal, or at the ground when the flip open cup is in the closed, or non-use, position. 
     In accordance with yet another aspect, the user fills the liquid reservoir with liquid through the fill hole. A cap covers the fill hole so liquid cannot leak through the fill hole. 
     In accordance with yet another aspect, leash attachment placement in relation to the leash is of critical importance. If the leash attachment is too close to the proximal end of the leash, i.e. the end of the leash held by the user, the leash attachment may obstruct the leash. If the leash attachment is too far away from the proximal end of the leash, there is too much leash between the proximal end of the leash and the leash attachment; the owner would have to carry the slack part of the leash, which may be cumbersome. There is an optimal range for the distance of the leash attachment from the proximal end of the leash. 6 inches plus or minus 2 inches is the optimal range. In essence, between 4 inches and 8 inches is the optimal distance between the leash attachment and the proximal end of the leash. 
     In accordance with yet another aspect, liquid exiting the nozzle is pointed towards the distal end of the flip open cup. This will allow the liquid to flow downward into the flip open cup when the cup is in the open position. Pointing the nozzle toward the proximal end of the flip open cup when dispensing liquid from the nozzle is of no use, since the flip open cup must be fully lowered to the open position for ease of use for the leashed animal. Not fully lowering the flip open cup makes it more difficult for the leash animal to drink from the flip open cup. 
     In accordance with yet another aspect, the cam secures the leash and locks the leash into place. 
     In accordance with yet another aspect, a funnel directs unused liquid in the flip open cup back through the fill hole back into the liquid reservoir. 
     In accordance with yet another aspect, a locating pin allows for easy assembly of the flip open cup to the leash attachment. The locating pin also allows the flip open cup to swing outwardly into the open position so that liquid can be expelled into the flip open cup. 
     In accordance with yet another aspect, the dispensing mechanism, comprising a body and at least one straw, is submersible within the liquid reservoir. In other words, the dispensing mechanism is fully within the liquid reservoir. Depending on the volume of liquid in the liquid reservoir, the dispensing mechanism may be fully submerged in liquid. 
     The present teachings also include methods for using the leash attachment with a leashed animal. The method of using the leash attachment involves placing the leash through the leash hole so that the cam can secure the leash, with the leash rolling along the ridges of the cam. The liquid reservoir is filled with a liquid through the fill hole and the cap is placed on the fill hole to prevent leakage from the fill hole. Swinging the flip open cup outward from the top surface is accomplished via the locating pin. Depressing the trigger allows liquid to travel through the at least one straw to the nozzle to be expelled. Expelled liquid is directed toward the distal end of the flip open cup so that it drains down into the flip open cup. Any unused liquid is directed to the funnel to be returned to the liquid reservoir via the fill hole, and the flip open cup is returned to the top surface. 
     The leash attachment has many uses. Its primary use is to provide liquid to leashed animals, allowing the animal owner to not have to carry a separate liquid bottle. The liquid exiting the nozzle can be also sprayed at the leashed animal to cool it or to redirect its attention and correct behavior. The liquid from the nozzle can be sprayed on the ground near the leashed animal&#39;s nose when it is spending too much time sniffing one spot during a walk or is distracted by another animal. The animal owner does not have to yank the leash to get the leashed animal&#39;s attention. Spraying other leashed or unleashed animals that approach the leashed animal is another use. The leash attachment can also be used to clean up messy paws or messy sidewalks by expelling liquid from the leash attachment onto the paws or ground. In addition, the leash attachment&#39;s grip provides a more comfortable feel to the user, allowing for better control of the leashed animal, especially if the leashed animal is energetic or large, as this type of animal tends to pull on the leash. 
     The leash attachment may be made by any conventional manufacturing method. Extrusion is a suitable method. Injection molding is another suitable method. Hard plastic or lightweight metal are appropriate materials for the leash attachment, with rubber being placed around the housing for easier handling and comfort. A portion of the inner surface of the housing, where the user&#39;s fingers grip the trigger, is textured to improve the user&#39;s grip and comfort while holding the leash attachment. 
     The reservoir may hold a considerable amount of liquid. 12 ounces of liquid may be accommodated in the liquid reservoir. The liquid reservoir may hold even more than 12 ounces of liquid by increasing the size of the housing. The leash attachment is able to be connected to exceptionally large animals. Indeed, animals of 200 pounds and up may be handled by the leash attachment, in addition to animals less than 200 pounds. 
     These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present teachings will become better understood with reference to the following description, examples and appended claims. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
       Those of skill in the art will understand that the drawings, described below, are for illustrative purposes only. The drawings are not intended to limit the scope of the present teachings in any way. 
         FIG. 1 . Perspective view of the leash attachment. 
         FIG. 2 . Side view of the leash attachment. 
         FIG. 3 . Top view of the leash attachment. 
         FIG. 4 . Back view of the leash attachment. 
         FIG. 5 . Front view of the leash attachment. 
         FIG. 6 . Bottom view of the leash attachment. 
         FIG. 7 . Side cross-sectional view of the leash attachment. 
         FIG. 8 . Bottom view of the first pair of detents. 
         FIG. 9 . Perspective cross-sectional view of the funnel. 
         FIG. 10 . Perspective view of the leash attachment with the flip open cup in the open position. 
         FIG. 11 . Side view of the leash attachment with the flip open cup in the open position. 
         FIG. 12 . Bottom view of the cam. 
         FIG. 13 . Perspective cross-sectional view of the cam. 
         FIG. 14 . Front view of the trigger. 
         FIG. 15 . View of a leashed animal being restrained by the leash attachment. 
         FIG. 16 . View of a leashed animal drinking from the flip open cup. 
         FIG. 17 . Side view of the leash attachment expelling liquid from the nozzle. 
         FIG. 18 . Side view of the leash attachment expelling liquid into the flip open cup. 
         FIG. 19 . Side view of the second pair of detents being pushed. 
         FIG. 20 . Side view of the cam being removed from the leash attachment. 
         FIG. 21 . Side view of the cam being placed into the leash attachment to secure the leash. 
         FIG. 22 . Perspective view of the cap. 
         FIG. 23 . Side cross-sectional view of the leash in relation to the cam when the cam is installed in the leash attachment. 
         FIG. 24 . Perspective view of the leash attachment, showing the fill hole. 
         FIG. 25 . Perspective view of the liquid being put into the leash attachment via the fill hole. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  refers to a perspective of a leash attachment  100 . In this view, a flip open cup  160  is in the closed position, resting on a top surface  155  of a housing  105 . The flip open cup  160  is attached to the housing  105 . The top surface  155  is angled downward. A trigger  110  is connected to a grip  115 ; the trigger&#39;s deployment releases liquid from a nozzle  150 . The grip  115  is for easy handling of the leash attachment  100 . A cam  125  is positioned in a leash hole  135 , with a second pair of detents  120  keeping the cam  125  in place when there is no leash attached to the leash attachment  100 . Ridges  130  are along the outer surface of the cam  125 , allowing for a firm and tight connection between a leash and the leash attachment  100 . The ridges  130  increase the surface area of the cam  125 , increasing the number of connection points between a leash and the cam  125 . A funnel  140  is located beneath a fill hole, which is covered by a cap  220 . When the flip open cup  160  is in the open position, liquid is expelled into it via the nozzle  150 . Liquid that remains in the flip open cup  160 , when the cap  220  is removed, can be drained back into the interior of the housing  105  via the funnel  140 . 
       FIG. 2  is a side view of the leash attachment  100 , further identifying the housing  105 , trigger  110 , grip  115 , second pair of detents  120 , nozzle  150 , and flip open cup  160 . 
       FIG. 3  is a top view of the leash attachment  100 , further identifying the top surface  155  that the flip open cup  160  rests on when in the closed position. The nozzle  150  is also identifiable. 
       FIG. 4  is a back view of the leash attachment  100 . The second pair of detents  120  are visible, as is the flip open cup  160 . 
       FIG. 5  is a front view of the leash attachment  100 . The flip open cup  160  is in the closed position, with the ridges  130  of the cam  125  fully exposed. The funnel  140 , cap  220 , second pair of detents  120 , and nozzle  150  are also clearly visible. 
       FIG. 6  is a bottom view of the leash attachment  100 , with the cam  125 , ridges  130 , and nozzle  150  are visible. 
       FIG. 7  is a side cross-sectional view of the leash attachment  100 . A dispensing mechanism  165  is within a liquid reservoir  170 . The liquid reservoir  170  is within the housing  105 . The dispensing mechanism  165 , comprising a body  175  and at least one straw  180 , is submersible, (i.e. submerged in the liquid held in the liquid reservoir  170 ). Depressing or deploying the trigger  110 , which is connected to the body  175  of the dispensing mechanism  165 , causes liquid in contact with one end of the straw  180  (i.e. a first end  185  of the straw  180 ) to be aspirated through that end of the straw  180 , through the body  175  of the dispensing mechanism  165 , and out to a second end  190  of a straw  180 , which is connected to the nozzle  150 . The flip open cup  160  is in the closed position. 
       FIG. 8  is a view of a first pair of detents  195 . The first pair of detents  195 , attached to the housing  105 , keeps the flip open cup  160  in the closed position. In effect, the first pair of detents  195  keeps the flip open cup  160  from unwantedly swinging open and outward. 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the funnel  140  and cap  220 . When the cap  220  is removed, liquid that is unused drains through the funnel  140  back into the liquid reservoir  170 . 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the leash attachment  100  with the flip open cup  160  in the open position. In the open position, the flip open cup  165  swings outward from the top surface  155 . Depressing or deploying the trigger  110  expels liquid from the nozzle  150 , which sprays liquid into the flip open cup  160 . 
       FIG. 11  is a side view of the leash attachment  100  with the flip open cup  160  in the open position, swung outward from the top surface  155 . 
       FIG. 12  is a bottom view of the cam  125 . The ridges  130  are along the outer surface of the cam  125 , with the second pair of detents  120  holding the cam  125  in place. The leash hole  135  surrounds the cam  125  and accommodates leashes. 
       FIG. 13  is a perspective cross-sectional view of the cam  125 , further showing the ridges  130 , leash hole  135 , and second pair of detents  120 . 
       FIG. 14  is a front cross-sectional view of the trigger  110 . The trigger  110  is attached to the grip  115 . The flip open cup  160  is in the closed position. 
       FIG. 15  is a view of the leash attachment  110  being held by a user, with a leash  200  connected to the leash attachment  100 . The user&#39;s index finger holds the trigger  110 , with the remaining fingers holding the grip  115 . The thumb is positioned on the back of the housing  105 . One end of the leash  200  is around the wrist of the user, while the other end of the leash  200  is attached to a leashed animal  205 . The flip open cup  160  is in the closed position. The leash attachment  100  is positioned at least  4  inches and at most  8  inches from a proximal end  230  of the leash  200 . 
       FIG. 16  is a view of a user holding the leash attachment  100 , with a leashed animal  205  drinking liquid  210  from the flip open cup  160 . With the flip open cup  160  swung outward from the top surface  155 , the leashed animal  205  may drink liquid  210  expelled from the nozzle  150 . 
       FIG. 17  is a side view of liquid  210  being expelled from the nozzle  150 . The user is holding the trigger  110  with the index finger and the grip  115  with the remaining fingers. The leash  200  is around the user&#39;s wrist. The flip open cup  160  is in the closed position. 
       FIG. 18  is a side view of liquid  210  being expelled from the nozzle  150  into the distal end  215  of the flip open cup  160 . The liquid  210  is directed towards the distal end  215  when the flip open cup  160  is in the open position so that the liquid  210  falls down and settles into the flip open cup  160 . The flip open cup  160  is in the open position, not resting on the top surface  155 . The leash  200  travels around the outer surface of the cam  125 , with the second pair of detents  120  securing the cam  125 . The user is holding the trigger  110  with the index finger and the grip  115  with the remaining fingers. A locating pin  225  allows for easy assembly of the flip open cup  160  onto the leash attachment  100 . The locating pin  225  also allows the flip open cup  160  to be swung into the open position. 
       FIGS. 19 and 20  show the removal of the cam  125  from the leash attachment  100 . In  FIG. 19 , a user presses the second pair of detents  190 .  FIG. 20  shows the removal of the cam  125  from the leash attachment  100  due to pressing the second pair of detents  190 . 
       FIG. 21  shows the placement of the cam  125  within the leash attachment to secure the leash  200 . A user can place the cam  125  within the leash hole  135  and between the second pair of detents  190  so that the leash  200  rolls along the ridges  130  of the cam  125 . The cam  125  is characterized as a rolling structure whereby the leash  200  rolls along the ridges  130  of the cam  125 , securing the leash  200  in place. 
       FIG. 22  is a perspective view of a cap  220 . The cap  220  covers the fill hole  145  to ensure that liquid does not leak from the leash attachment  100 . The cap  220  is tethered to fill hole  145 . 
       FIG. 23  is a side cross-sectional view of the leash attachment  100 , with the leash  200  along the outer surface of the cam  125 . The cam exists within the leash hole  135 . The leash  200  rolls along the ridges  130  of the cam  125 . Once the cam  125  is in place, the leash  200  is secured. 
       FIG. 24  is a perspective view of the leash attachment  100 , with the fill hole  145  visible. When the leash attachment  100  is in use, the cap  220  would be plugged into the fill hole  145 . When the cap  220  is not plugged into the fill hole  145 , the cap  220  is tethered to the fill hole  145 . 
       FIG. 25  is a perspective view of liquid  210  being deposited into the leash attachment  100  by way of the fill hole  145 . The cap  220  is removed, allowing liquid  210  to enter the fill hole  145 . When the cap  220  plugs the fill hole  145 , liquid  210  does not leak from the leash attachment  100 . 
     Other Embodiments 
     In another embodiment, the cam runs freely along a cam track, securing the leash. Also in this embodiment, the liquid reservoir is lined by a gasket, which keeps liquid from leaking from the liquid reservoir. A thin rubberized tether attaches to the cap and cam to prevent loss. In this same embodiment, the body of the dispensing mechanism may also accommodate one straw that enters the body of the dispensing mechanism at its bottom and exits at the top. The portion of the straw that enters the body of the dispensing mechanism via the bottom of the dispensing mechanism has a free end that is in contact with the liquid. The portion of the straw that exits the top of the body of the dispensing mechanism has an end that is connected to the nozzle. The leash attachment has a level indicator to let the animal owner know how much liquid is in the liquid reservoir. In addition, the liquid that exits the nozzle can exit as a spray or a stream, depending on the nozzle&#39;s setting, with the option of pouring liquid from the liquid reservoir directly into the cup, bypassing the nozzle. 
     The detailed description set-forth above is provided to aid those skilled in the art in practicing the present invention. However, the invention described and claimed herein is not to be limited in scope by the specific embodiments herein disclosed because these embodiments are intended as illustration of several aspects of the invention. Any equivalent embodiments are intended to be within the scope of this invention. Indeed, various modifications of the invention in addition to those shown and described herein will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description which do not depart from the spirit or scope of the present inventive discovery. Such modifications are also intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims.