Patent ID: 8001933

Claim:
In combination with a pet collar, a leash apparatus comprising: (a) a hollow casing having each of a predetermined shape and a predetermined size; (b) a leash spool having a drum with a through bore for rotation on an axle which extends from an interior surface defined by said hollow casing and a pair of sides each disposed on and secure to a respective end of said drum; (c) a leash coiled on said drum in a retracted position and extendable through an aperture formed in a wall of said hollow casing upon application of a force; (d) a spring disposed within said hollow casing and engageable with each of said spool and said axle, said spring biasing said spool for rotation to retract said leash into said hollow casing; (e) means for securing said hollow casing to said leash, whereby said hollow casing is positioned adjacent said collar in a non-operable position, and whereby said hollow casing is manually moved in a direction away from said collar to extend said leash during use; (f) a plurality of spaced apart notches formed in each peripheral edge of said each side of said leash spool; (g) an elongated lever disposed between said pair of sides of said spool and having a longitudinal axis; (h) an elongated stop member secured to and disposed on one end of said lever perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, said elongated stop member having a length thereof so sized that ends of said elongated stop member operatively engage a pair of opposed notches in each side of said spool; (i) k a shaft portion formed intermediate ends of said lever and parallel to said stop member, said shaft portion having each end thereof extending past a respective side edge of said lever, said each end being received within a socket formed on an interior surface of said hollow casing; (j) a button shaped member secured to and is disposed on an opposed end of said lever, said button shaped member extends outwardly from an upper surface of said level, said button shaped member protruding through an aperture formed within a wall of said hollow casing and which is manually depressed to disengage said stop member from said pair of notches; and (k) a spring having each of a coiled portion being positioned on said shaft portion of said lever, a first end disposed in abutting relationship with said interior surface of said hollow casing, and a second end resting on an upper surface of one of said lever and said stop member, said spring returns said stop member into engagement with said pair of notches when said button shaped member is released.