Patent ID: 7886700

Claim:
A leash assembly for tethering an animal comprising: a retractable leash assembly having a housing and a gripping handle ( 42 ) formed integral with the housing ( 40 ): a flexible member configured to form a safety band for looping around a user wrist and a tethering band for tethering the safety band to the gripping handle wherein the safety band is formed by; a strap element ( 74 ) formed with a first closed end loop ( 86 ) at a first end thereof; a first slide and release buckle ( 76 ) and a loop connector ( 72 ) each captured by the first closed end loop ( 86 ); a second closed loop ( 88 ) formed by the strap element ( 74 ) at a second end thereof; and, a second slide and release buckle ( 78 ) captured by the second closed loop ( 88 ) and configured to mate with the first slide and release buckle ( 76 ) for forming the safety band.