Abstract:
A retracting animal lead having a housing with a handle portion and an internal chamber in which a spool is rotatably mounted. An extraction opening is formed in the housing in alignment with a winding cylinder of the spool for guiding lead material from the spool out of the housing. The spool is rotationally biased into a first rotational position and is rotatable against the biasing force so as, in use, to unwind from the spool the lead material wound thereon. A winding handle is rotatably mounted to the outside of the housing, and a coupling means is operatively moveable between an engaged position in which it non-rotatable couples the winding handle to the spool so as to enable manual rotation of the spool, thereby, in use, enabling the lead material manually to be rewound onto the spool, and a disengaged position in which the spool in rotationally disconnected from the handle.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to automatically retracting dog leads and in particular to such dog leads which include a manual operation for retracting the lead. 
         [0003]    2. The Prior Art 
         [0004]    Dog leads are known in the art in which the lead web or cord is wound onto a reel within a lead housing and, the reel being urged rotationally into a wound position by a spring or the like, the lead being extendable against the action of the biasing spring to extend the lead and thereby allow a dog attached thereto a wider range of movement whilst still being under the control of the human owner. As the dog moves away from the owner, move cord will be unwound from the reel against the action of the biasing spring, and as the animal moves back towards the owner, the spring automatically winds up the excess cord, thereby preventing the cord from resting on the ground where it might become tangled or cause an obstruction to the animal or the human owner. Such prior art leads typically also include a stop mechanism by means of which the human owner can prevent further unwinding of cord from the reel in the event that they wish to limit the range of movement of the animal away from them, for example in the circumstance where another dog might have appeared and the owner wishes to prevent their animal from reaching the other animal. Another system which is known on the prior art also includes an additional feature whereby, once the stop mechanism has been operated, the lead will still extend and retract up to the length at which the stop mechanism was imposed. This offers the advantage that, even when the range has been limited, the lead will still rewind and hence prevents extra lead cord from gathering on the ground where it might become tangled or the like as the animal moves back towards the owner. 
         [0005]    However these prior art systems all suffer from the same draw back that, once the animal has extended the lead to a certain length, the owner must close the distance between the lead and the animal, either by pulling the animal back or by walking towards the animal, in order to reduce the lead and hence reduce the range of movement of the animal from the owner. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a retracting animal lead comprising a housing having a handle portion and an internal aperture in which a spool is rotatably mounted, an extraction opening in the housing aligned with a winding cylinder of the spool through which, in use, the end of the lead material may pass so as to extend to the external of the housing, rotational biasing means biasing the spool into a first rotational position, the spool being rotatable against the action of the biasing means so as, in use, to unwind from the spool a lead material wound thereon, and a winding handle rotatably mounted to the outside of the housing, and coupling means non-rotatable coupling the winding handle to the spool so as to enable manual rotation of the spool, thereby, in use, enabling the lead material manually to be rewound onto the spool. 
         [0007]    A retractable lead in accordance with the invention has the advantage that the handle provides a system by means of which a user can “wind” their animal back in the circumstance where the user wishes to reduce the range of movement of the animal away himself without the user having to physically move towards the animal. 
         [0008]    Preferably, the coupling means is operatively moveable between an engaged position in which it non-rotatably couples the winding handle to the spool and a disengaged position in which the winding handle to rotationally decoupled from the spool. In said disengaged position, the coupling means preferably non-rotatably couples the winding handle to the housing. 
         [0009]    The housing preferably has an opening in one side thereof in which a winding disc is rotatably mounted so as to form on side of the internal aperture, the winding handle being eccentrically non-rotatable mounted on the outside of the winding disc. The coupling means is, then, advantageously eccentrically mounted on the inside of the winding disc and is radially slidably moveable between said engaged and disengaged positions. More particularly, the coupling means preferably has splines formed on inner and outer radial faces which compliments splines formed on the inner surface of the housing and splines associated with the spool, in a radially inner position of the coupling means the inner splines engaging the splines associated with the spool in order to effect a rotational drive coupling between the winding disc and the spool, and in a radially outer position, the outer splines engaging the splines of the inner surface of the housing in order to non-rotatably couple the winding handle to the housing. 
         [0010]    The winding disc may be provided with a pair of circumferentially spaced apart mounting brackets extending at an eccentric position from its inner surface, the coupling means being mounted between said brackets so as to be constrained to rotate with the winding disc whilst being radially slidably moveable relative to the winding disc. 
         [0011]    In a particularly preferred embodiment, the winding handle is pivotally attached to the winding disc for movement between an erect position in which it upstands from the disc and a folded position in which it extends diametrically across the winding disc. The winding handle may then be operatively connected to the coupling means so as automatically to move the coupling means radially from its disengaged position to its engaged position when the winding handle pivots from its folded to its erect position. 
         [0012]    This arrangement has the advantage that the winding handle automatically disconnects from the spool when folded into its storage position and is instead rotationally locked to the housing. Accordingly, it will not move as the lead extends and retracts during the loading of the biasing spring during movement of the animal. 
         [0013]    This may be achieved in a particularly preferred manner if an inner end of the winding handle operatively engages in an opening in the coupling means, the pivot point of the winding handle being located between the ends of the handle so that upon pivotal movement of the winding handle, said inner end moves radially relative to the winding disc, moving the coupling means between its engaged and disengaged positions. 
         [0014]    The housing may be provided with a spool carrier rotatably mounted therein, the coupling means non-rotatably coupling the winding handle and the spool carrier, the spool carrier having an engagement surface on which the spool in concentrically mounted so as to non-rotatably connect the spool to the spool carrier. 
         [0015]    The handle preferably includes locking means operable to engage the spool so as to prevent rotation thereof relative to the housing, thereby, in use, preventing the lead from unwinding from the spool. The locking means preferably includes a pin which engages between teeth formed on the spool, preventing the teeth from moving passed the pin and hence limiting the rotational movement of the spool. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    In order that the invention may be well understood, there will now be described an embodiment thereof, given by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  is a prospective view of the right side of the housing with the handle part in a fold position, 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a prospective view of the left side of the housing with the handle in an extended position, 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a prospective view of the right side of the housing with the handle in an extended position, 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a prospective internal view of a right side half of the housing, 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a prospective view of a winding panel which locates on an aperture in the right side housing part; 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a view corresponding to  FIG. 5  with the handle part folded; 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is a prospective view of the right side handle part showing the drive coupling part and the handle closed; 
           [0024]      FIG. 7   a  is a perspective view corresponding to  FIG. 7  with the winding panel cut away; 
           [0025]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view showing the winding plate and coupling part engaged with the reel carrier of the housing; 
           [0026]      FIG. 8   a  is a perspective view corresponding to  FIG. 8  but with the winding plate omitted; 
           [0027]      FIG. 9  is a prospective view corresponding to  FIG. 8  with the reel mounted on the reel carrier; 
           [0028]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view showing the assembly of  FIG. 9  mounted in the right side housing part; 
           [0029]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the housing showing a latch button and locking pin located in the region of the handle; 
           [0030]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the housing showing the latch button and locking pin of  FIG. 11 ; 
           [0031]      FIG. 13  is an enlarged view showing the latch button engaged with the spool to prevent rotation thereof relative to the housing; 
           [0032]      FIG. 14  is an enlarged view corresponding to  FIG. 13  but with the latch button disengaged from the spool; 
           [0033]      FIG. 15  is an enlarged view of the inner end of the latch button and locking pin; 
           [0034]      FIG. 16  is a partially cut-away view of the assembled internal components of the lead of the invention; and 
           [0035]      FIG. 17  illustrates the shape of a lead outlet aperture in the housing. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0036]    Referring first to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a retractable animal lead  1 . The lead is formed of a housing  2  which is longitudinally split along parting line  3  to form a left housing part  2   a  and a right housing part  2   b . Moulded into one end of the housing  2  is a handle portion  4  by means of which, in use, the housing can be grasped in the hand of the user, and into the other end of the housing  2  is an aperture  5  which connects to the inside of the housing and through which, in use a lead cord or web, wound onto a reel  30  mounted within the housing, extends.  FIG. 17  shows the cross-section of the aperture  5 , from which it can be seem that it is configured to allow guided passage of either a lead cord or a lead web. 
         [0037]    The right housing part  2   b  has an opening in its side face in which is rotatably mounted a winding plate  7 . A winding handle  8  is pivotally attached to the winding plate  7  so as to be moveable between a retracted position in which it is folded against the winding plate so as to extend substantially diametrically there-across as shown in  FIG. 1 , and an extended, use position, shown in  FIG. 3 , in which the handle stands erect from the winding plate  7 . In said extended position, the winding handle  8  may be grasped by the free hand of the user and operated to rotate the winding plate  7  within the housing  2 . 
         [0038]    The end of the winding handle  8  which is attached to the winding plate  7  has a hook  9  formed thereon which extends through an opening in the winding plate  7 . As can be seen in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , a pair of brackets  11  are formed on the inner surface  7   a  of the winding plate  7  in which is slidably mounted a drive member  10  for radial sliding movement relative to the axis of rotation of the winding plate  7 . In the illustrated embodiment, the pivotal mounting of the winding handle to the winding plate  7  is achieved by means of a mounting pin which extends between the brackets  11 , passing through mounting holes  11  a formed therein, the drive member  10  have a longitudinal slot  10   a  formed therein in which the mounting pin locates to as to allow radial sliding movement of the drive member  10  relative to the mounting pin. The drive member  10  has teeth  12 ,  13  formed on its inner  14   a  and outer  14   b  radial faces, and has a central through slot  15  formed therein extending from the side adjacent the inner surface  7   a  in which the end of the hook  9  of the winding handle  8  engages so as to operatively connect the drive member  10  to the handle  8 . As the winding handle  8  is pivoted from its retracted position to its extended position, the hook  9  pivots towards the central axis of the winding plate  7 , moving the drive member  10  radially towards the axis of rotation as shown in  FIG. 5 . Similarly, as the handle is moved back to its retracted position, the hook  9  pivots away from the central axis, sliding the drive member  10  radially outwardly away from the central axis as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0039]    Referring next to  FIG. 7 , there is shown a perspective internal view of the right housing part  2   b  with the winding plate  7  mounted therein. The right side housing part  2   b  has a circular inner chamber  20 , the circumferential surface  21  of which carries teeth  22  around the entire periphery of the inner chamber  20 . The teeth  22  of the right housing part  2   b  are complementary to the teeth  13  formed on the outer face  14   b  of the drive member  10  so that when the drive member moves to its radially outer position corresponding to the retracted position of the winding handle  8 , the outer teeth  13  of the drive member  10  engage with the teeth  22  of the housing part  2   b , locking the winding plate  7  against rotation relative to the housing  2 . On the other hand, as the drive member  10  moves radially inwardly to its radially inner position corresponding to the extended position of the handle  8 , the other teeth  13  of the drive member  10  disengage from the teeth  22  of the housing part  2   b  so as to allow the winding plate  7  and winding handle  8  to rotate within the housing  2 . 
         [0040]    As shown in  FIG. 8 , a drive spindle  25  is journal mounted in the housing  2  on top of and co-axial with the winding plate  7 . The drive spindle  25  has an upper coupling end  26  on which is non-rotatably mounted a lead spool  30  ( FIG. 9 ) on which the cord of the lead is would for storage. The coupling between the spool and the drive spindle  25  may be achieved in any conventional manner by simple interlocking mechanical arrangement and will not be described in detail here. The drive spindle  25  has a circumferential shoulder  27  on which is formed a plurality of drive teeth  28  complementary to the teeth  12  formed on the inner radial face  14   a  of the drive member  10 . In the retracted position of the winding handle  8 , the drive member  10  is moved radially outwardly away from drive teeth  28  of the drive spindle  25  so that the drive spindle and spool carried thereon are free to rotate independently of the winding plate  7 . In the extended position of the handle, the teeth  12  of the drive member  10  engage with the drive teeth  28  of the drive spindle, locking the winding handle  8  and plate  7  to rotate with the drive spindle  25 . In this way, manual rotation of the winding handle  8  rotates the drive spindle  25  and hence the spool carried thereon, allowing the cord of the lead to be wound back onto the spool and hence the animal to be “wound in” back to a closer proximity to the owner. 
         [0041]    A torsional spring (not shown) or similar rotational biasing means is disposed between the spool  30  and the housing  2  which rotationally biases the spool automatically the rewind the lead cord onto the spool  30  when there is no tension applied thereto, the spool being rotatable against the loading of the spring upon application of sufficient tension to the lead to allow the lead to extend from the housing  2 . The details of the biasing system are conventional and will not be described further. 
         [0042]    A winding guide  31  locates in the aperture  5  of the housing  2 , forming a nozzle  31   a  through which the lead cord or web passes and it extends from and rewinds onto the spool  30 , a chute  31   b  extending from the nozzle interiorly of the housing towards the spool  30 . The width of the chute  31   b  is substantially equal to and aligns with the width of the winding core  30   a  of the spool  30 , and operates to guide the unwinding of the lead cord from and rewinding onto the spool  30 . 
         [0043]    A locking button  35  is slidably mounted in an opening  36  in the housing proximate to the handle  4  so that the button  35  can easily be operated by the thumb of a hand grasping the handle  4 . The button  35  has a pair of stops  35   a ,  35   b  extending from its inner end located within the housing. The button  35  has a guide slot  36  formed therein in which a guide pin  37  carried on the housing engages so as to constrain the limit the movement of the button  35  into and out of the housing. A spring (not shown) operatively engages between the guide pin  37  and the button  35  so as to urge the button outwardly from the housing into an extended position in which it is fully protrudes from the housing  2  and the stops  35   a ,  35   b  are radially spaced apart from the outer circumferential periphery of the spool  30 . Upon application of sufficient pressure by a user on the button  35 , the button  35  slides inwards against the loading of the spring into a locking position, moving the teeth radially towards the spool  30  and into a position in which they overlap the upper and lower faces  30   a ,  30   b  respectively of the spool  30  as shown in  FIG. 11 . A plurality of saw tooth profiled locking teeth  40  are provided on each of the upper and lower faces  30   a ,  30   b  of the spool, located proximate to the outer circumference thereof, circumferentially distributed about and axially protruding from the upper and lower faces  30   a ,  30   b  respectively of the spool  30 . The steep face  40   a  of the profile of each tooth  40  faces in the unwind direction of the spool. 
         [0044]    In the locking position of the button  35 , each of the stops  35   a ,  35   b  engages between adjacent locking teeth  40  of the associated face as shown in  FIG. 13 , so that rotation of the spool in either direction brings one of the locking teeth  40  to bear against the stop  35   a ,  35   b  when then prevents further rotation in either direction. As a result, the spool is limited to rotate through an angle equal to the angle between adjacent locking teeth  40 . 
         [0045]    The button may be held in by the user so as temporarily to lock the spool against rotation. If locking for a longer period is required, however, a latch pin  41  is provided in the side of the housing which is engagable with the button when it is in its locking position. As shown in  FIG. 15 , the button  35  has a block  39  formed on the side thereof which is normally free to travel back and forth along the opening  36  in the housing  2  as the button moves between its extended to its locking positions. When the latch pin  41  is depressed, a stop  42  carried thereon is caused to move into the path of the block  35 , preventing it from outwardly along the opening  36  in the housing and thereby retaining the button in its locking position. The latch pin  41  has a conventional press-latch operation so that upon first pressing it in, it latches in its depressed position and upon pressing it in again, it is released to return to a release position in which the stop  42  is withdrawn from the path of movement of the block  39  and hence the button  35  is free to move to its extended position, releasing the spool for rotation. 
         [0046]    In a modified version of the locking system not illustrated, the stops  35   a ,  35   b  may be slidably connected to the button and biased by biasing means into an extended position, the stops being retractable against the biasing means by a distance at least equal to the radial height of each of the locking teeth  40  formed on the spool. In this way, when the button is engaged, the stops  35   a ,  35   b  will operate to limit rotational movement of the spool in the unwind direct as described above, upon rotation of the spool in the rewind direction, the ramped face of the saw profiled teeth  40  will develop a camming action with the stops  35   a ,  35   b , urging them radially outwards to allow the teeth  40  to move there-past. In this way, the button operates to prevent the animal attached to the leash from moving any further away from the use, and but the leash can re-wind lithe animal moves back towards the user, and will, at each stage, be locked at the new, shorter length.