Patent ID: 8347824

Claim:
A leash assembly, comprising: a leash, which is operatively associated with a rotational spool, and further comprising a buckle affixed to one distal end of the leash; a handle for retractably storing the leash and the rotational spool, the handle further comprising a receiving member; an attachment member that is secured to a collar worn by an animal, the attachment member comprising an engaging member for engaging the receiving member; the engaging member and receiving member having shapes that are complementary such that the engaging member may be selectively inserted into and received by and retained by the receiving member; wherein the buckle may be selectively engaged to the collar forming a first connection between the leash assembly and the collar, and wherein the engaging member may be selectively engaged with the receiving member, forming a second connection between the leash assembly and the collar, and wherein the leash assembly may be selectively removed from the collar by disengaging the engaging member from the receiving member without disconnecting the buckle from the collar; wherein the spool is further comprised of a plurality of teeth along the circumference of the spool, wherein the leash assembly further comprises a latching member extending outside the handle and having a first position and a second position, wherein the latching member is coupled with a braking member configured to engage one of the plurality of teeth when the latching member is in the second position, wherein the spool is not free to rotate when the braking member engages one of the plurality of teeth thereby preventing the leash from retracting from the handle, and wherein when the latching member is in the first position, the braking member disengages the one of the plurality of teeth thereby permitting the leash from retracting from the handle.