Abstract:
A spring clip device for use with leashes and dog runs to prevent or reduce the likelihood of injury to pets and their owners. The spring clip assembly includes a closable clip member, a swivel portion, a housing, a sleeve member and a resilient member. The closable clip member is adapted to be connected to the collar of the dog or other animal and is pivotally connected to the housing by use of the swivel portion. The resilient member is positioned within the housing and biases the sleeve member within the housing. The sleeve member is adapted to telescope outward from the housing and compress the resilient member in the event that a force greater than biasing force of the resilient member.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
   This disclosure relates to a spring clip apparatus that is designed to provide a degree of shock absorption to prevent injury to dogs and other animals, such as when they are connected to a dog run or yard stake. The spring clip apparatus also reduces the likelihood of injury to the person walking the animal, in the event the animal suddenly accelerates when on a leash. 
   Various types of snaps are used on dog runs and leashes to allow for quick attachment to the collar of a dog. A typical snap includes a generally closable clip member with a portion of the clip that can be slid rearward to create an opening, allowing for connection to an attachment ring of a dog&#39;s collar. The slidable portion of the clip typically includes a spring to bias the slidable portion to a closed position to retain the attachment ring. Snaps of this nature do not include shock absorbing qualities to prevent injury to the animal or person walking it. 
   In view of the above, it should be appreciated that there is a need for a snap arrangement that limits excessive forces from being exerted, to prevent or reduce the likelihood of injury. The present invention satisfies these and other needs and provides further related advantages. 
   SUMMARY 
   The disclosure includes a spring clip device for use with leashes and dog runs to prevent or reduce the likelihood of injury to pets and their owners. 
   The spring clip assembly includes a closable clip member, a swivel portion, a housing, a sleeve member and a resilient member. The closable clip member is adapted to be connected to the collar of the dog or other animal and is pivotally connected to the housing by use of the swivel portion. The resilient member is positioned within the housing and biases the sleeve member within the housing. The sleeve member is adapted to telescope outward from the housing and compress the resilient member in the event that a force greater than biasing force of the resilient member is exerted on the sleeve. 
   The spring clip assembly can be connected to the collar of a dog by opening the clip member and attaching the spring clip assembly to the collar attachment ring. The sleeve member, opposite the clip member is adapted to accept cable, rope, chain or other restraining device. The restraining device can be connected to a dog run or a leash handle. Excessive forces applied to the restraining device such as when the dog or other animal exceeds the biasing force of the resilient member causes the sleeve member to compress the biasing member. The compression of the resilient member creates a cushioning or shock absorbing effect preventing or decreasing the likelihood of injury to the dog or the person walking it. 
   Other features and advantages of the disclosure will be set forth in part in the description which follows and the accompanying drawings, wherein the embodiments of the disclosure are described and shown, and in part will become apparent upon examination of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present device will be best understood when reference is made to the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein identical parts are identified by identical reference numbers and wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of the spring clip device. 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the spring clip device of  FIG. 1 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   As illustrated in the drawings, a spring clip assembly  10  is shown that comprises a closable clip member  12 , a swivel  14 , a housing  16 , a sleeve member  18  and a resilient member  20 . Specific details of the individual components will now be described. 
   As shown in the exemplary drawings, and with particular reference to  FIG. 1 , the spring clip assembly  10  is adapted to be releasably connected to the attachment ring of a collar or halter, worn by dogs and other animals. The spring clip assembly  10  also is adapted to be connected to a flexible lead such as a cable, rope or chain to allow the animal to be walked, or secured in a closed area. The spring clip assembly  10  is particularly useful with a dog run. A dog run is a ring and cable arrangement set up to allow a dog to run in a backyard. A main cable is positioned between two points above the ground typically suspended by posts. A ring is attached to the main cable and is permitted to move freely across the main cable. A lead line restraint device is attached to the ring at a first end and to the spring clip assembly  10  at a second end. The dog, once connected to the lead line, can run the length of the main cable between the posts. When the pulley reaches the end of the main cable, travel of the ring abruptly halts preventing further forward movement of the dog. Without absorbing the impact force, injury or death may result. Use of the spring clip device  10  limits injury to the dog by absorbing shock forces created by the abrupt halting of the forward movement of the dog. The length of the spring and the spring force can be adjusted depending upon the weight of the animal to be secured. 
   The clip member  12  of the spring clip assembly  10  is adapted to be connected to the attachment ring of a dog collar or the halter of another animal. The clip member  12  is comprised of a slide pin  22  having a tang  24 , that allows the slide pin  22  to be selectively opened, creating a passageway in the clip member  12 . The passageway formed in the clip member  12  allows for the ingress and egress of the attachment ring of the dog collar or halter. The slide pin  22  is positioned within a bore  26  of the clip member  12  and is biased to a closed position by an internal spring  23 . At the end of the clip member  12  is a shaft portion  30  provided with an internally threaded opening for receiving a bolt  32  with a shaft  34  and a head  36 , wherein the head  36  has a diameter greater than that of the shaft  34 . 
   The housing  16  of the spring clip assembly  10  is pivotally connected to the shaft portion  30  of the clip member  12  and contains the resilient member  20  and a substantial portion of the sleeve member  18 . The housing  16  is preferably fabricated from a metal to provide rigidity, strength and longevity. While metal is preferred, other materials, such as plastic, may be used. The housing  16  includes a first end  38  and a spaced apart second end  40 . The first end  38  of the housing  16  includes a first aperture  42  that is adapted to allow the shaft of the bolt  32  to pass through and pivot. A collar  35  positioned on the shaft portion  30  has a larger diameter than the aperture  42  thereby limiting the axial movement of the bolt  32  in either direction. 
   The second end  40  of the housing  16  includes a second aperture  44  that is axially aligned with the first aperture  42 . The first and second ends  38  and  40  are interconnected by a plurality of rib members  46  that form a cage around the resilient member  20  and the sleeve member  18 .  FIG. 1  illustrates the housing  16  with a rib member  46  removed to allow viewing of the resilient member  20 . While the use of rib members  46  is set forth herein, this is not to limit other housing configurations that may be used such as an enclosed housing having a cylindrical or rectangular configuration. The rib members  46  provide rigidity to the housing  16  and prevent damage to the resilient member  20  and sleeve member  18 . The housing  16  is designed to withstand the impact forces created on the spring clip assembly  10  by a dog or other animal attached thereto. The rib members  46  also prevent the resilient member  20  from snagging on articles of clothing or other objects. 
   The sleeve member  18  is adapted to be secured to a cable or lead, in a number of ways known to one of ordinary skill in the art. This could include a cable that is attached to a pet run or a pet “tie out” system or the like. The sleeve member  18  is comprised of a cylindrical metal tube  48  that includes an outer diameter  50 , dimensioned to pass through the second aperture  44  of the second end  40 . The sleeve member  18  further includes a central bore  52  that is adapted to receive the cable or lead. The sleeve member  18  includes a first end  54  and a spaced apart second end  56 . The first end  54  is adapted to receive the cable or lead. Alternatively, the first end  54  could include a fastening arrangement to which the cable, chain lead or rope is secured. 
   The second end  56  of the sleeve member  18  includes a flange  55  that is adapted to retain the resilient member  20  with respect to the sleeve member  18 . While use of a flange  55  is preferred, other types of retaining devices can be used to retain the resilient member  20 , such as a cap or nut arrangement. The sleeve member  18  is adapted to extend outward from the second end  40  of the housing  16 . When the sleeve member  18  experiences zero load from outside forces, a significant portion of the sleeve member  18  resides within the housing  16  of the spring clip assembly  10 . When a load is placed upon the sleeve member  18 , the sleeve member  18  slides outward from the housing  16  until the spring  20  is fully compressed. 
   The resilient member  20  is positioned around the sleeve member  18  and in the preferred embodiment is in the form of an expanded coil spring. The resilient member  20  includes a first end  58  and a spaced apart second end  60 . The first end  58  of the resilient member  20  is positioned adjacent to the flange  55  of the sleeve member  18  and the second end is positioned adjacent to the second end  40  of the housing  16 . The resilient member  20  is adapted to be compressed when a force is exerted on the sleeve member  18  by a cable. The compression of the resilient member  20  acts to absorb shock received by the sharp tensioning of the cable when pulled upon by a dog or other animal. 
   In use, the spring clip assembly  10  is first attached to a cable by inserting the cable through the central bore  52  of the sleeve member  18  and securing the cable by knotting the cable at the end, utilizing a locking brad or adhesive. 
   Once the spring clip assembly  10  is secured to the cable, the clip member  12  is attached to the attachment ring of a dog collar by sliding the slide pin  22  to an open position and inserting the attachment ring into the clip member  12 . Once the spring clip assembly  10  is secured to the collar of a dog, the dog can freely move within the confines of the dog run. Use of the spring clip device  10  limits injury to the dog by absorbing shock forces created by the abrupt halting of the forward movement of the dog. In the event the dog is running and reaches the end of the dog run, the extra force exerted on the cable will pull the sleeve member  18  of the spring clip assembly  10  outward from the housing  16  compressing the resilient member  20 , thereby absorbing the impact force. 
   Dual swivel connections are provided in that the clip member  12  can swivel within the housing  16  and a sleeve member  18  can also swivel within the housing. 
   Various features of the invention have been particularly shown and described in connection with the illustrated embodiment of the invention, however, it must be understood that these particular arrangements merely illustrate, and that the invention is to be given its fullest interpretation within the terms of the appended claims.