Patent Application
20200000065
This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 of German Application 10 2018 115 523.9, filed Jun. 27, 2018, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention pertains to a retractable leash device for leading animals that has a handle and a housing for the accommodation of a leash that can be rolled up and unrolled. A mechanism which exerts a restoring force on the leash is provided in the housing, so that, as soon as it is at least partly unrolled and no pull is acting on the leash, this leash is automatically pulled into the housing and is rolled up here.
So-called retractable leashes are generally specially configured leashes which are, as a rule, used for leading dogs. In this connection, belts or ropes are defined as a leash as well. In comparison to the conventional dog leashes, retractable leashes are characterized in that they have a spring-loaded coil in a handle housing, about which coil the leash or the rope is automatically wound up. As a result, the leash is always under a slight tension and it is ensured that this leash does not drag on the ground, namely as a function of the distance between the animal being led and the owner. It is particularly advantageous here that the animal being led with the leash can move relatively freely. Furthermore, many of the prior-art retractable leashes have a lock or a brake, with which the owner can limit the run of the animal at any time, can especially set the run at a desired length and, if necessary, can reduce the distance between him and the animal being led.
A retractable leash for leading animals of the type of this class is known from DE 20 2006 002147 U1. The retractable leash described has a housing with a handle and a spring-loaded coil within the housing, which coil is mounted rotatably about an axis of rotation and about which coil the leash is automatically rolled up when pulling decreases. Furthermore, a locking device is provided, with which the leash can be locked in an at least partially unrolled position as needed. The technical solution described is characterized in that an outlet opening, through which the leash comes out of the housing, is arranged movably in relation to the housing at least partly in the pulling direction or in the extension direction of the leash. Based on this configuration, the outlet opening moves, e.g., in the form of a bushing, in the pulling direction of the leash, as soon as the unrolled leash reaches an end stop and the animal being led continues to pull. The friction and thus the wear of the leash shall be reduced in this manner.
The problem with the use of retractable leashes is often that the force is introduced into the housing and into the handle connected thereto from different directions because of the varying distances between the animal owner and the animal being led and varying pulling force, which leads at least at times to a non-ergonomic hand position of the animal owner and to increased friction in the area of the outlet opening. Especially when leading animals, for example, dogs, which tend to pull on the leash, the pulling direction varies considerably in some cases between a situation, in which the animal “heels” and a situation, in which the dog is pulling. This may lead to the hand of the animal owner being pinched at the end of the handle or the differences in the pulling direction of the leash having to be compensated for by the owner by a change in the holding of the hand and arm. This varying tension in the area of the handle is usually perceived as uncomfortable, uncomfortable or even as strenuous by animal owners when leading their animals, especially in case of dogs which are large and/or pull strongly, and in the case of longer distances. In some cases, this problems represents a considerable impairment especially for older animal owners or animal owners with problems in the hands, arms or in the shoulder-neck area. Moreover, the increased friction in the area of the outlet opening leads to increased wear.
The problem with the use of retractable leashes is often that the force is introduced into the housing and into the handle connected thereto from different directions because of the varying distances between the animal owner and the animal being led and varying pulling force, which leads at least at times to a non-ergonomic hand position of the animal owner and to increased friction in the area of the outlet opening. Especially when leading animals, for example, dogs, which tend to pull on the leash, the pulling direction varies considerably in some cases between a situation, in which the animal “heels” and a situation, in which the dog is pulling. This may lead to the hand of the animal owner being pinched at the end of the handle or the differences in the pulling direction of the leash having to be compensated for by the owner by a change in the holding of the hand and arm. This varying tension in the area of the handle is usually perceived as uncomfortable, uncomfortable or even as strenuous by animal owners when leading their animals, especially in case of dogs which are large and/or pull strongly, and in the case of longer distances. In some cases, this problems represents a considerable impairment especially for older animal owners or animal owners with problems in the hands, arms or in the shoulder-neck area. Moreover, the increased friction in the area of the outlet opening leads to increased wear.
Based on the retractable leash devices known from the state of the art as well as on the problems as explained above, the object of the present invention is to perfect a retractable leash device such that a comfortable holding of the retractable leash device and thus a leading of the animal are possible for the owner even under different conditions, especially in the case of varying pulling directions of the leash. The technical solution being indicated here shall always guarantee a good, secure grip for the person leading an animal Δt the same time, the fundamental configuration and the functionality of the novel retractable leash device shall essentially correspond to those of the prior-art retractable leash device. Further, the corresponding technical solution shall be able to be implemented without considerable design effort and the costs connected thereto.
The present invention pertains to a retractable leash device with a handle and with a housing, in which a leash for leading animals is accommodated, preferably by means of a rotatable coil, such that the leash can be rolled up and unrolled, and a mechanism which exerts a restoring force at least at times on the at least partly unrolled leash is provided in the housing. The retractable leash device is configured according to the present invention such that an outlet opening, through which the leash comes out of the housing, can be moved into at least two positions in relation to the handle. Thus, a retractable leash device configured according to the present invention has at least one element that initiates or makes possible a movement of the outlet opening in relation to the handle. The essential idea of the present invention is thus that the outlet opening, through which the leash, which can be rolled up and unrolled, is led out of the housing, does not have a fixed position in relation to the handle and/or in relation to the housing which has a handle, but rather is movable in relation to the handle and/or in relation to the housing. Due to the provision of suitable elements, it is achieved that the outlet opening can be moved into at least two different positions in relation to the handle and/or in relation to the housing.
In this manner, the angle between the leash and the handle is adapted to the corresponding state of operation.
The position of the outlet opening is advantageously changed as a function of the pulling direction of the leash, especially of the at least partly unrolled leash. The retractable leash device configured according to the present invention with variable outlet opening is adapted here to the corresponding situation during the leading of an animal and will always make possible a good, secure grip for the person leading an animal. The outlet opening is located in the vicinity of the handle or else at a greater distance from the handle as a function of the pulling direction of the leash, which especially depends on the distance of the animal being led from the retractable leash device and thus on the length of the unrolled part of the available leash. It is advantageous here if the outlet opening is located in the corresponding state of operation in a tangential position, in which the leash extends tangentially through the outlet opening up to the coil. Regardless of the length of the unrolled part of the leash and the pulling force, the handle thus always occupies the optimal alignment in relation to the pulling direction. The retractable leash device according to the present invention preferably has at least one means to hold the outlet opening in the nontensioned state of the leash, e.g., when the animal “heels” in a position, in which the distance between the outlet opening and the handle is minimal. The means preferably have at least one spring, especially a coil spring or helical spring, with which a suitable pretension is generated.
According to a special embodiment of the present invention, provisions are made for the housing to have an open outlet area, within which the position of the outlet opening is variable. In this case, the outlet opening is at different points of the outlet area depending on the situation when leading an animal. In order to be able to reliably prevent an animal owner from catching, for example, a finger in the open outlet area, a cover element is preferably provided, which cover element at least at times closes the areas of the outlet area, in which the outlet opening is not located. This cover element is preferably a displaceable cover, which is pushed automatically, preferably by means of a spring force, over the open part of the outlet area, in which the outlet opening is not located.
A special variant provides for the housing together with the leash which is at least partly rolled up therein to be arranged movably in relation to the handle. According to this special embodiment, the housing, in which the leash is preferably wound up and unwound about the axis of rotation of a coil, is thus movable in relation to the handle. In this case, the outlet opening is located in the movably arranged housing and is moved, as needed, together with the housing in relation to the handle. The housing with the outlet opening provided therein is also moved in this case as a function of a pulling direction of the leash. If the animal being led is located at a further distance from the retractable leash device and is pulling on the leash, then the housing with the outlet opening provided therein is moved such that the distance between the outlet opening and the handle is greater than when the animal is located in the vicinity of the retractable leash device, especially when it “heels.”
Provisions are made in an alternative embodiment of the present invention for a lever element, which contacts the leash in at least some areas and through the movement of which the outlet opening is displaced, especially pivoted in relation to the housing, to be fastened to the housing. The lever element preferably has a deflection area, over which the leash is guided and which is moved in case of a movement of the lever element such that the outlet opening is displaced, especially pivoted together with the leash either in the direction of the handle or in the reverse direction, as needed or on a situation-related basis.
The lever element is preferably pivotable about an axis, which coincides with the axis of rotation of the coil, about which the leash is wound up at least partly. The lever element is thus pivoted about the pivot axis for displacing the outlet opening in relation to the handle and/or in relation to the housing of the retractable leash device.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, provisions are made for the mechanism for applying a restoring force on the leash to have at least one spring element. The spring element is preferably arranged in the interior of the housing and acts on a coil, about which the leash is wound up. In this case, the coil is mounted rotatably about an axis of rotation and is acted on by a spring force such that a restoring force is exerted on the at least partly unrolled leash, so that the leash is wound up about the coil when the pulling force decreases. The spring force is selected such that the leash is reliably tensioned and is rolled up when the pulling force decreases, without the animal being led with the leash being impaired as a result. The spring element is preferably a coil spring or a helical spring.
Furthermore, provisions are advantageously made for a retractable leash device which is configured according to the present invention to have a lock, by means of which the leash can be fixed or braked or locked in an at least partly unrolled position. Such a locking mechanism ensures that the run of the animal being led can be limited as needed and possibly the distance between the owner and the animal being led can be reduced as needed. In addition to the device, the present invention also pertains to a process for rolling up and unrolling a leash for leading animals. In case of the process, the leash is at least at times wound up or unwound about a coil at least indirectly connected to a handle. The process is configured according to the present invention such that an angle between the pulling direction of the leash and a central axis of the handle, which central axis runs in the longitudinal direction of the handle, is changed at least at times. The angle described above is changed as a function of the distance of the animal from the animal owner and the pulling direction connected therewith.
If the animal is located in the direct vicinity of the owner, for example, it “heels,” the angle between the central line of the handle and the pulling direction of the leash will be relatively small or even minimal.
If now the animal is moving away from the animal owner, so that the leash unrolls due to pulling, the outlet opening pivots at the housing downwards together with the housing according to a special embodiment, such that the angle between the central axis of the handle and the pulling direction is increased.
Regardless of whether the device or the process according to the present invention is accomplished, the essential idea of the present invention is that the outlet opening is located in the upper position, provided the dog heels and is not pulling, the distance between the outlet opening and the handle is minimal and thus a low-friction inlet and outlet of the leash tangentially to the coil, about which it is wound up, is guaranteed. Provided the animal is pulling on the leash, the outlet opening pivots downwards and the distance between the outlet opening and the handle and the angle between the pulling direction of the leash and the central axis of the handle increase.
The present invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the figures without limiting the general idea of the present invention on the basis of special exemplary embodiments. The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated.
In the drawings:
Referring to the drawings,
Furthermore, the retractable leash device 1 shown in
According to the embodiment shown in
In the area of the circumference of the outlet opening provided in the rotatably mounted housing 3, the leash 4 contacts the housing 3 and the outlet opening 6 and is thus guided. Because of a suitable pretension generated by means of a spring, especially a coil spring or helical spring, the rotatable housing 3 is pretensioned against the handle 2 such that the outlet opening 6 is at the upper end stop in the situation, which is shown in
A retractable leash device 1 with a housing part 3, which is configured as rotatable in relation to the handle 2, is shown in
The lever element 7 contacts the leash and guides it in the form of a carrier in the area of the outlet opening 6. Because of a suitable pretension generated by means of a spring, especially by means of a coil spring or helical spring, the holding element or lever element 7 is pretensioned such that the outlet opening 6 is located at the upper end stop in the situation shown in
The lever element 7 according to
Further, the retractable leash device 1 shown in
While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2018 115 523.9 | Jun 2018 | DE | national |
