Patent ID: 7131401

Claim:
A retracting and locking leash assembly comprising; a housing defining a cavity casing ( 30 ) and a handle ( 28 ) spaced from said cavity casing ( 30 ) by connectors ( 32 ) surrounding and defining an opening, a spool ( 36 ) supported in said cavity casing ( 30 ) for rotation about a winding axis, a leash ( 20 ) attached to said spool ( 36 ) for winding on and unwinding from said spool ( 36 ) in response to rotation of said spool ( 36 ), a trigger ( 38 ) slidably supported by said housing for rectilinear movement between a locked position to prevent rotation of said spool ( 36 ) and an unlocked position to allow rotation of said spool ( 36 ) to wind and unwind said leash ( 20 ), and said trigger ( 38 ) having a locking portion ( 46 ) disposed in said cavity casing ( 30 ) and a gripping portion ( 48 ) co-extensive with said handle ( 28 ) and extending from said handle ( 28 ) into said opening with said gripping portion ( 48 ) of said trigger ( 38 ) being movable rectilinearly away from said spool ( 36 ) from said unlocked position outwardly toward said locked position for moving said locking portion ( 46 ) into engagement with said spool ( 36 ).