Patent ID: 8402925

Claim:
A retractable animal leash apparatus, the apparatus being comprised of: a housing having a handle or ergonomically designed grip, the housing having inner walls and exterior walls and able to be opened; a spool comprised of a central cylinder open at each end and a disk-shaped wall attached to each end of the center cylinder, wherein each of the disk-shaped walls has a central opening substantially corresponding to the opposing open ends of the central cylinder; a leash attached at a first end to the central cylinder; a central axle having an inner housing and an outer housing, wherein the outer housing is substantially surrounded by the central cylinder of the spool; at least one spring having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the spring is substantially attached to the inner housing of the central axle and the second end of the spring is substantially attached to the spool, the spring being configured such that as the spool is unreeled, the spring is wound up, and as the spring is released, the spool automatically reels the leash back into the housing; and an opening in the housing to allow the leash to unreel from the spool.