Retracting and locking leash assembly

[0001] This application claims the benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 60/517,275 filed Nov. 4, 2003.

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] A retracting and locking leash assembly of the type used to leash animals, e.g., for walking a dog.

[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0005] When walking a pet on a leash, it is necessary to control how far the pet can wander from the leash holder. In order to do this, various retractable leashes have been developed to unwind and wind the leash from a housing. Typically, the housing defines a cavity casing and a handle spaced from the cavity casing by connectors surrounding and defining a finger opening. A spool is supported in the cavity casing for rotation about a winding axis and a leash is wrapped about the spool for winding on and unwinding from the spool in response to rotation of the spool. Various embodiments of such an assembly are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,405,683 and 6,694,922 and Application Publication 2003/0029,388, all in the name of Walter et al. These assemblies all include a trigger pivotally supported for controlling rotation of the spool. Such triggers present a control or finger engaging portion that is accessible by only one finger when a larger gripping area is needed for some operators.

[0006] Other assemblies have used a trigger slidably supported by the housing for rectilinear movement between a locked position to prevent rotation of the spool and an unlocked position to allow rotation of the spool to wind and unwind the leash to provide a more compact housing, as illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,202,510 to Stanish. This arrangement, however, does not include a handle for gripping by the whole hand, which is often need for adequate leverage.

[0007] The invention, therefore, provides a trigger having a locking portion disposed in the cavity casing for engaging the spool and a gripping portion extending from the handle into the finger opening for moving the trigger rectilinearly.

[0008] Accordingly, the trigger is accessible in the handle opening for gripping with multiple fingers thereby providing for compact components and the requisite leverage.

[0009] Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the subject invention;

[0011] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the assembly shown in FIG. 1;

[0012] FIG. 3 is a side view of the outside of the cover of the housing of the assembly of FIG. 1; and

[0013] FIG. 4 is a side view of the interior of the base of the housing of the assembly of FIG. 1.

[0014] A retracting and locking leash 20 assembly is shown in total in FIGS. 1 and 2. The assembly includes a housing comprising a base 22 and a cover 24 mating along an interface 26 extending through a handle 28 and a casing 30. In other words, the housing has two halves defined by a base 22 and a cover 24 that when mated together along the interface 26, define a cavity casing 30 and a handle 28 spaced from the cavity casing 30 by connectors 32 surrounding and defining a finger 34 opening.

[0015] In addition, a spool 36 and a trigger 38 are disposed between the base 22 and the cover 24. The spool 36 is supported in the cavity casing 30 for rotation about a winding axis. More specifically, the spool 36 defines a bore 40 on the winding axis and the base 22 presents a shaft 42 extending into the bore 40 for rotatably supporting the spool 36 in the cavity casing 30 of the housing.

[0016] A leash 20 is attached to the spool 36 for winding and unwinding from the spool 36 in response to rotation of the spool 36. The leash 20 winds and unwinds about the circumference of the spool 36. In addition, the base 22 includes an eyelet 44 and the leash 20 travels through the eyelet 44 as it winds and unwinds about the spool 36.

[0017] The trigger 38 is slidably supported by the housing for rectilinear movement between a locked position to prevent rotation of the spool 36 and an unlocked position to allow rotation of the spool 36 to wind and unwind the leash 20. The trigger 38 includes a locking portion 46 disposed in the cavity casing 30 for engaging the spool 36 and a gripping portion 48 extending from the handle 28 into the finger 34 opening for moving the trigger 38 rectilinearly. The trigger 38 also includes a pair of arms 50 coextensive with the connectors 32 about the finger 34 opening and interconnecting the gripping portion 48 and the locking portion 46. The housing also presents a semi-circular periphery that extends through the finger 34 opening and the locking portion 46 of the trigger 38 is circular and extends about the spool 36 within the housing.

[0018] The trigger 38 also includes a guide 52 and a tab 54 interconnecting the trigger 38 and the housing with the tab 54 slidably supported by the guide 52. More specifically, the gripping portion 48 is co-extensive with the handle 28 and includes a pair of guides 52 and a pair of tabs 54 spaced from one another along the handle 28 with each guide 52 paired with one of said tabs 54 for slidably supporting the gripping portion 48 at spaced positions on the handle 28. The pairs of guides 52 and tabs 54 align the trigger 38 such that the trigger 38 slides rectilinearly without tilting.

[0019] The assembly also includes a biasing device disposed between the handle 28 and the gripping portion 48 for biasing the trigger 38 toward an unlocked position. More specifically, the biasing device includes a spring 56 adjacent each paired guide 52 and tab 54 and the springs 56 react between the base 22 and the trigger 38.

[0020] The spool 36 includes a plurality of teeth 58 disposed in a circle about an axis of rotation of the spool 36 and the locking portion 46 includes a finger 34 for engaging the teeth 58 in the locked position. The finger 34 is disposed radially inside the circle of teeth 58 in the unlocked position and moves radially outwardly upon rectilinear movement of said gripping portion 48.

[0021] The spool 36 also includes a recess 60 surrounding the bore 40 and includes a torsion spring 62 disposed in the recess 60 and interconnecting the spool 36 and the shaft 42. The torsion spring 62 urges the spool 36 to rotate to wind the leash 20. The spool 36 also includes a cap 64 disposed over the recess 60 to enclose the torsion spring 62 within the recess 60.

[0022] The assembly also includes a stop 66 for selectively maintaining the trigger 38 in the locked position. The stop 66 is pivotally disposed on the assembly and includes a spring 56 to bias the stop 66 in the unlocked position. When the trigger 38 is in the locked position, the stop 66 is squeezed to compress the spring 56 and the stop 66 engages with the trigger 38 to maintain the trigger 38 in the locked position.

[0023] The base 22 and the cover 24 can be mated using a variety of connections including screws, sonic welding, or heat staking.

[0024] Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. The invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described within the scope of the appended claims, wherein that which is prior art is antecedent to the novelty set forth in the “characterized by” clause. The novelty is meant to be particularly and distinctly recited in the “characterized by” clause whereas the antecedent recitations merely set forth the old and well-known combination in which the invention resides. These antecedent recitations should be interpreted to embrace any combination in which the incentive novelty exercises its utility. In addition, the reference numerals in the claims are merely for convenience and are not to be read in any way as limiting.