Abstract:
A pet restraint system may include a tether attached to a movable restraint member. The tether is attached to an animal&#39;s collar by means of a connector at one end and is affixed to the restraint member at the opposite end. The tether may be formed from a braided polyvinyl chloride (PVC) line threaded through a plurality of sheaths that prevent the tethering line from kinking or wearing as the pet moves within a fenced area.

Description:
[0001]     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/670,875, filed on Sep. 25, 2003, the entire disclosure which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Pet restraint systems often employ a tether for securing dogs or other pets within a designated area. Such design is advantageous because it allows the dog freedom of movement within the area prescribed by the tether. Such, prior systems require, however, that the tether be affixed to some stationary point, such as a pin or post. Because the tether is attached to a fixed point, the actual area available to the dog may be much less than the area the dog might otherwise reach.  
         [0003]     Pet owners often forgo the use of a tether in favor of a fenced area, thus allowing a dog or pet complete freedom of movement within the area defined by the fence. However, dogs may sometimes burrow under fences and escape from the fenced area. Thus, while a fence offers advantages over a tether in that the dog may have more freedom within the fenced area, a fence presents a disadvantage in that the dog may burrow under the fence and escape.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     The present invention recognizes and addresses considerations of prior art constructions and methods and provides a pet restraint system for use in conjunction with a boundary fence, the pet restraint having a tether line having a first end and a second end, a harness for attaching the tether line to a pet, a connector attached to the tethering line first end, and a restraint anchor attached to the tether line second end. The restraint anchor defines respective widths in at least two orthogonal dimensions that are each larger than an expected cross-section width of a hole burrowed by the pet under the boundary fence. The tether may be composed of a braided polyvinyl chloride (PVC) line threaded through a plurality of sheaths that prevent the PVC tethering line from kinking or wearing as the animal moves within the fenced area.  
         [0005]     The accompanying drawings, incorporated in and constituting part of this specification, illustrate one or more embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]     A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended drawings, in which:  
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a mobile pet restraint apparatus in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of the restraint member shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  is a plan view of connection means shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0010]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the mobile pet restraint apparatus operating as described and in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
       [0011]     Repeat use of reference characters in the present specification and drawings is intended to represent same or analogous features or elements of the invention.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0012]     Reference will now be made in detail to presently preferred embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope and spirit thereof. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment may be used on another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.  
         [0013]     Referring to the drawings, and particularly to  FIG. 1 , an embodiment of the mobile pet restraint apparatus designated generally by the reference numeral  10  is described. Restraint apparatus  10  generally includes a connector  12 , tether  14  and restraint anchor  20 . Connector  12  may be a swivel eye bolt, a spring clasp or any other suitable fastener for attaching tether  14  to a pet  40  by means of a harness  13 , for example a collar, shoulder harness or muzzle. In a preferred embodiment, connector  12  is a swivel eye bolt snap formed from aluminum alloy, as shown in  FIG. 3 , although it should be understood that connector  12  may be formed from any suitable metal alloy or polymer. A snap opening  12   a  of the swivel eye bolt snap  12  attaches the restraint apparatus  10  to harness  13 , and a swivel eye  12   b  permanently connects to one end of tether  14  as illustrated in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0014]     Tether  14  may be composed of a tethering line  16  and a plurality of sheaths  18 . Line  16  may be of any length, and in a preferred embodiment, line  14  is between three and four feet. Line  16  may be formed from an elastic or inelastic material. In a preferred embodiment, line  16  is a ⅜-inch braided polyvinyl chloride line. Line  16  may be threaded through a plurality of sheaths  18  formed from a polymer, for example vinyl or any other suitable material that protects the line from kinking, wearing or tangling. Sheath  18  may be of length such that the sheaths slide along line  16  if necessary, as shown in  FIG. 1 . Moreover, in another embodiment, a plurality of sheaths may be provided to allow the line to bend, or sheath  18  may be eliminated where line  16  is formed from a durable material such as steel cable. Additionally, sheath  18  should have a sufficiently large inner diameter to allow the sheath to slide freely along line  16 .  
         [0015]     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , restraint anchor  20  is permanently attached to the opposite side of line  16  from swivel eye bolt snap  12  at connector  22 . Line  16  may be attached by heat sealing the line to connector  22 , tying tether line  16  to the connector, affixing a net to the end of line  16  that envelopes restraint anchor  20 , or by any other suitable manner of attachment.  
         [0016]     Restraint anchor  20  may be a hollow, light-weight sphere formed from plastic, rubber or other suitable material. For example, in a preferred embodiment, anchor  20  is formed from a semi-rigid plastic sphere, having a radius within the range of 10 inches to 32 inches depending on the size of the pet being restrained. Generally, regardless of the shape, the anchor will be a three dimensional shape. As indicated below, the shape may vary as desired and as suitable for a given pet, but preferably the anchor is of such a size that two of three orthogonal dimensions is larger than the maximum cross-sectional width of a hole the pet would be expected to dig under a fence. Of course, the desirable width will depend on the size of the pet and the pet&#39;s tendencies in digging holes. For example, restraint anchor  20  may preferably have a radius greater than one half the width of the shoulders of pet  40 . While a spherical anchor is illustrated in the drawings, it should be understood that restraint anchor  20  may also be formed as a square, polygon, and tetrahedron or as a multi-lobed or multi-armed configuration so long as the anchor inhibits pet  40  from escaping under a fence.  
         [0017]     In operation, restraint apparatus  10  is attached to harnessing apparatus  13  of pet  40 , although apparatus  10  may also be connected to a shoulder harness or muzzle. As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , as pet  40  attempts to escape fenced area  30  by digging a tunnel  34  under fence  32 , restraint anchor  20  prevents the pet from escaping the fenced area. That is, restraint anchor  20 , being larger than opening  35  of tunnel  34 , will not pass through the opening, thus preventing pet  40  from escaping to an area beyond the fence  36 . In the event pet  40  becomes trapped due to lodging of the restraint anchor in some endangering position, for example around a tree or over the fence, the restraint apparatus may be used in conjunction with a particular form of harness known as a “break-away collar” or other suitable collar that will release pet  40  from apparatus  10  if sufficient force is imparted on the collar.  
         [0018]     While one or more preferred embodiments of the invention have been described above, it should be understood that any and all equivalent realizations of the present invention are included within the scope and spirit thereof. The embodiments depicted are presented by way of example and are not intended as limitations upon the present invention. Thus, those of ordinary skill in this art should understand that the present invention is not limited to these embodiments since modifications can be made. Therefore, it is contemplated that any and all such embodiments are included in the present invention as may fall within the scope and spirit thereof.