Patent ID: 8544420

Claim:
In an apparatus for tethering a dog to a personal carrier, the apparatus including a mounting structure, a flexible coupling, a rigid, semi S-shaped mast, and a clip with a base, the clip defining at least one open loop and being secured, during use, to the dog's collar or harness, the mounting structure having at least one ear-like member which protrudes outwardly when the mounting structure is affixed to the carrier's frame, the flexible coupling, which is juxtaposed between the mounting structure and the mast's inner end and fixedly attached to both of them, connecting the mast to the ear-like member in such a way that the mast extends outwardly from the carrier's frame and arches generally upwardly, the mast being movable, in the forward and aft directions, about the ear-like member, wherein the improvement comprises: (a) a stiffener which protrudes outwardly from the mast's outer end; and (b) means, including an elongated cord connected to the mounting structure, for mooring the stiffener within the mast's outer end, a portion of the elongated cord defining a leading segment in which the cord is both threaded through the clip's open loop and doubled back on itself, the stiffener comprising the leading segment and a resilient plastic sheath, the plastic sheath, which is shrinkfitted onto the leading segment and the clip's base, encasing them in such a way that the clip's base cannot move from side to side independently of the leading segment, thereby virtually eliminating rattles and other dog-distracting chatter emanating from the clip and potentially set in motion by the tethered dog's own exertions.