Patent Application
20170245470
Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to a pet leash. More specifically, the present invention relates to a pet leash that is configured to constrain one or more pets.
Background Information
A pet leash can be designed to secure and/constrain one or more pets. A multi-pet pet leash can include multiple tethers that are each configured to be attached to a pet collar or a pet harness. The pet leash can also be configured to include one or more swivels to prevent tangling of the tethers. Additionally, a pet leash can be designed to include reflective portions to serve as an enhanced safety precaution during night walking of the pet(s).
Generally, the present disclosure is directed to various features of a pet leash having one or more tethers configured to be attached to a pet collar or a harness.
In one feature, a pet leash is provided comprising a grip, an elongated mainline, a first tether and a second tether, a first swivel and a second swivel. The grip is configured to be held by a handler. The elongated mainline has a first mainline end connected to an end of the grip. Each of the first and second tethers has a first tether end and a second tether end. The first tether end of the first and second tethers is connected to a second mainline end of the mainline. The second tether end of the first and second tethers is configured to be secured to a collar or a harness. The first swivel is disposed between the grip and the elongated mainline. The first swivel connects the first mainline end to the end of the grip. The second swivel connects the first tether ends of the tethers and the second mainline end.
Also other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the disclosed pet leash will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses one embodiment and two modifications of the pet leash.
Referring now to the attached drawings which form a part of this original disclosure:
Selected embodiments will now be explained with reference to the drawings. It will be apparent to those skilled in the pet products field from this disclosure that the following descriptions of the embodiments are provided for illustration only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
Referring initially to
Preferably, the pet leash 12 is constructed of a durable fabric material that would allow the pet leash 12 to remain flexible and easy to maneuver. Thus, the pet leash 12 is constructed of a sturdy and thick fabric material, such as nylon. In the illustrated embodiment, the pet leash 12 is constructed primarily of nylon. It is noted that, at least one of the grip 16, the mainline 18 and the animal first and second tethers 20a and 20b is primarily of nylon. However, preferably, each of these elements is primarily nylon. Also, the pet leash 12 is preferably designed to have distinctive and noticeable patterns made of one or more reflective materials. Specifically, as best seen in
The grip 16 of the pet leash 12 will now be discussed with reference to
The first grip 16a is preferably constructed primarily of nylon and is preferably padded for a more comfortable use. In the illustrated embodiment as shown, at least the first grip 16a of the pet leash 12 is padded. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that the second grip 16b, the mainline 18 and the first and second tethers 20a and 20b may be padded as well, as needed and/or desired. In the illustrated embodiment, the first grip 16a includes an inner padded layer 24 and an outer layer 26 that is a nylon layer. The outer nylon layer 26 is attached to the inner padded layer 24 by stitching and sewing (not shown). It will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that the outer nylon layer 26 may also be attached to the inner padded layer 24 by other attachment devices such as adhesives, as needed and/or desired. The outer nylon layer 26 of the first grip 16a can also include reflective nylon and/or reflective webbing 28. As shown, the first grip 16a is attached to the mainline 18 by a first swivel 30 to enable rotational movement of the first grip 16a with respect to the mainline 18.
The mainline 18 of the pet leash 12 will now be discussed. Preferably, the mainline 18 is made primarily out of nylon and includes reflective webbing 28 disposed throughout the majority of the mainline 18. In the illustrated embodiment, the reflective webbing 28 is stitched sections of the mainline 18. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that the reflective nylon can include other designs or patterns as needed and/or desired.
As shown, the mainline 18 has a first mainline end 32 and a second mainline end 34. The first mainline end 32 is connected to an end 36 of the first grip 16a by the first swivel 30. The second mainline end 34 is attached to each of the first and second tethers 20a and 20b by a second swivel 38. The mainline 18 also includes the second grip 16b that is a loop in the mainline 18. Specifically, in the illustrated embodiment as shown, the second grip 16b is disposed on the mainline 18 of the pet leash 12 in a position that is closer to both the first and second tethers 20a and 20b than the first grip 16a is disposed to the first and second tethers 20a and 20b. In the illustrated embodiment, the second grip 16b includes the second mainline end 34 of the mainline 18. Alternatively, the second grip 16b can also be adjacent to the second mainline end 34. The second grip 16b is disposed on the mainline 18 to enable better control over larger and more unruly pets, and can be useful during the training of pets. In this way, the second grip 16b is configured as a control handle. As previously mentioned, the second grip 16b is padded. Preferably, at least a portion of the second grip 16b is padded to provide a more comfortable grip for the handler 10.
The first and second tethers 20a and 20b will now be discussed. In the illustrated embodiment, the first and second tethers 20a and 20b are identical. Thus, for the sake of brevity, only the first tether 20a will be described herein, and any discussion of the first tether 20a is applicable to the second tether 20b. Also, corresponding components between the first and second tethers 20a and 20b will receive the same reference numeral in the disclosure.
In the illustrated embodiment, first tether 20a of the pet leash 12 has a first tether end 48 and a second tether end 50. The first tether end 48 is connected to the second mainline end 34 of the mainline 18 by the second swivel 38. The second tether end 50 is configured to be secured to the collar 14. Preferably, as best seen in
As shown in the illustrated embodiment, at least one of the first and second tethers 20a and 20b includes an elastic portion 44. Preferably, the majority of each of the first and second tethers 20a and 20b is comprised of the elastic portion 44. Typically, the elastic portion 44 can include an elastic cord (not shown) having one or more elastic strands to form a core that is covered by a layer of woven fabric or polypropylene sheath (not shown). In the illustrated embodiment, the elastic portion 44 includes an outer nylon cover (not shown). The elastic portions 44 of the first and second tethers 20a and 20b are designed to provide a more cushioned walk for the pets P and the handler 10.
The first swivel 30 of the pet leash 12 will now be discussed with reference to
The second swivel 38 will now be discussed with reference to
In the illustrated embodiment, the first and second swivels 30 and 38 differ in that the second swivel 38 includes the snap hook 46 that is a second fastening member. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that there are four possible arrangements of the first and second swivels 30 and 38: 1) both first and second swivels 30 and 38 include the snap hook 46, 2) neither of the first and second swivels 30 and 38 includes the snap hook 46, 3) only the first swivel 30 includes the snap hook 46, 4) only the second swivel includes the snap hook 46. Preferably, at least one of the first and second swivels 30 and 38 includes the snap hook 46. Thus, the snap hook 46 is configured to detachably connect at least one of the first grip 16a to the mainline 18 and the first and second tethers 20a and 20b to the mainline 18. In other words, at least the first grip 16a is detachably connected to the mainline 18, or at least the first and second tethers 20a and 20b are detachably connected to the mainline 18 via the snap hook 46.
Referring now to
Similar to the pet leash 12, the pet leash 112 is constructed to be used to constrain one or more animals. The pet leash 112 is constructed primarily of nylon and preferably includes reflective webbing 28. As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the pet leash 112 includes a first grip 16a, a mainline 18 having a second grip 16b and first and second tethers 120a and 120b. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that the pet leash 112 can include additional tethers to accommodate additional animals, as needed and/or desired. The pet leash 112 further includes a first swivel 30 and a second swivel 138. The pet leash 112 is identical to the pet leash 12, except the second swivel 38 of the pet leash 12 has been replaced with a modified second swivel 138. The second swivel 138 of the pet leash 12 includes a first part 138a, a second part 138b and a swivel part 138c. The second swivel 138 does not include a snap hook but the first and second parts 138a and 138b of the second swivel 138 are both enclosed loops.
In addition, the first and second tethers 120a and 120b of the pet leash 112 have been modified to not include elastic portions. Instead, the first and second tethers 120a and 120b of the pet leash 112 are constructed primarily of nylon and include adjustable portions 148 so that the lengths of the tethers 120 are adjustable.
Referring now to
Similar to the pet leash 112, the pet leash 212 is constructed to be used to constrain one or more animals. The pet leash 212 is constructed primarily of nylon and preferably includes reflective webbing 28. As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the pet leash 212 includes a first grip 16a, a mainline 218 and first and second tethers 120a and 120b. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that the pet leash 212 can include additional tethers to accommodate additional animals, as needed and/or desired. The pet leash 212 further includes a first swivel 30 and a second swivel 38. The second modified pet leash 212 is identical to the first modified pet leash 112 except the mainline 218 has been modified to not include the second grip 16b. Thus, the second modified pet leash 212 provides a simpler configuration of a pet leash.
Referring now to
In understanding the scope of the present invention, the term “comprising” and its derivatives, as used herein, are intended to be open ended terms that specify the presence of the stated features, elements, components, and/or groups, but do not exclude the presence of other unstated features, elements, components, and/or groups. The foregoing also applies to words having similar meanings such as the terms, “including”, “having” and their derivatives. Also, the terms “part,” “section,” “portion,” “member” or “component” when used in the singular can have the dual meaning of a single part or a plurality of parts unless otherwise stated.
Also it will be understood that although the terms “first” and “second” may be used herein to describe various components these components should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one component from another. Thus, for example, a first component discussed above could be termed a second component and vice-a-versa without departing from the teachings of the present invention. The term “attached” or “attaching”, as used herein, encompasses configurations in which an element is directly secured to another element by affixing the element directly to the other element; configurations in which the element is indirectly secured to the other element by affixing the element to the intermediate member(s) which in turn are affixed to the other element; and configurations in which one element is integral with another element, i.e. one element is essentially part of the other element. This definition also applies to words of similar meaning, for example, “connected”, “coupled” and their derivatives.
While only selected embodiments have been chosen to illustrate the present invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that various changes and modifications can be made herein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, unless specifically stated otherwise, the size, shape, location or orientation of the various components can be changed as needed and/or desired so long as the changes do not substantially affect their intended function. Unless specifically stated otherwise, components that are shown directly connected or contacting each other can have intermediate structures disposed between them so long as the changes do not substantially affect their intended function. The functions of one element can be performed by two, and vice versa unless specifically stated otherwise. The structures and functions of one embodiment can be adopted in another embodiment. It is not necessary for all advantages to be present in a particular embodiment at the same time. Every feature which is unique from the prior art, alone or in combination with other features, also should be considered a separate description of further inventions by the applicant, including the structural and/or functional concepts embodied by such feature(s). Thus, the foregoing descriptions of the embodiments according to the present invention are provided for illustration only, and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
