SE2030065A1 - A retractable leash system with adjustable maximum leash extension - Google Patents

Abstract

A retractable leash system with adjustable maximum leash extensionABSTRACTThe present invention pertains to a retractable leash for rolling up and unrolling a leash, especially for leading an animal, with a leash roller, which is mounted rotatably on a carrier and can be reset by means of resetting means into a rolledup position, in which the leash is wound up onto the leash roller, with blocking means for blocking the unrolling of the leash from the leash roller, and having a length control system for limiting the maximum extendable length of the leash while simultaneously maintaining the retractability of the leash.

Description

BACKGROUND The retractable nature of conventional leashes benefits the user byeliminating the excess leash that can be accumulated When the distancebetween the user and the leashed being (e.g. pet) varies. These devicesfeature a carrier With a handle portion that encloses a Wind-up roller toretract an attached fixed length of line. The Wind-up roller extends the leashWhen pulled and retracts the leash When tension is lessened. The maximumtravel of the leash in current devices can be limited by the user in tWoWays: (1) by fully extending the leash on the Wind-up roller, thus reachingthe maximum length of the leash; and (2) by employing a manuallyactuated brake mechanism, Which locks and fixes the Wind-up roller. Alocking mechanism on the brake alloWs the user to lock in place the Wind-up roller Without the user having to apply constant pressure to the brake mechanism.

Conventionally, if a user desires to shorten the length of the retractableleash, the user typically employs a manually actuated brake that can beeither locked or held in place manually by applying constant pressure.Shortening the length of the leash is beneficial in situations Where the userdesires the leashed being to remain closer so the user has better control.Especially in situations With potential hazards. Locking the leash With thebrake hoWever freezes the Wind-up roller and stops the retractable functionWhich can result in an accumulation of excess line of the leash When thedistance between the user and the animal becomes shorter. This situationcould be dangerous for the user, the animal or others, causing tripping, tangling or other hazards (5) Thus, a need for a retractable leash With Variable maximum lengthextension exists. There are known such devices and they are either notrobust, not possible to adjust With the same hand holding the leash, clumsy or heavy.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 1.The invention involves a carrier (9) that contains a roller (2) on Which aleash (1) (alternatively a cord or tape) can be Wound off or onto. This ismade possible, by the roller"s (2) ability to rotate around an axis that is partof the carrier (9). A mainspring is integrated Within the roller (2) With itsone end attached to the roller (2) and its other end attached to the axisaround Which the roller (2) evolves. As the leash (1) is being pulled out ofthe carrier (9), the roller (2) rotates and Winds up the mainspring, Whichexerts a pulling force on the leash. If the distance betWeen user and animallessens, this force causes the roller (2) to rotate in the opposite direction,thus retracting the pulled-out leash. If the user desires to keep the animalWithin a shorter distance than the maximum length of the leash (1), it canbe done using one of the tWo different methods listed beloW.

Method 1: Activating the manual brake.

Method 2: Setting the automatic brake system to a length, short of the maximum length. 2.Explanation of Method 1: By pushing the pushbutton (5), the attached fork lock (4) slides radiallyonto the roller (2) so that they latch onto each other. Due to the fork lock(4) being held in place by the carrier (9), the rotation of the roller (2) is stopped or prevented, making a further extension of the leash (1) impossible. In this scenario, the leash cannot be extracted nor retracted,making it more likely to tangle and cause danger for both user, animal andsurrounding creatures. This function is however a necessity, as the userneeds the ability to quickly stop the animal from running into suddendangers. When the fork lock (4) is being pressed doWn onto the roller (2),the resisting spring (10) is being contracted, exerting a force on the forklock (4) away from the center of the roller (2). This in tum causes the forklock (4) to disengage as soon as the user releases pressure from the pushbutton (5).

Explanation of Method 2: 4.The automatic brake system is configured by turning the adjusting Wheel(6) supported by the carrier (9). As can be seen in fig. 3, the adjustingWheel (6) has an intemal gear, Which When turned also rotates theconnected shaft (7). The shaft (7) can only make a rotational movement andis not able to, for instance, move towards or aWay from the center of theroller (2), since it is being held in place by both the carrier (9) and achannel in the adjusting Wheel (6). The shaft can be regarded as the core ofthe entire brake system, as it runs through the entire mechanism. Besidesrunning through the adjusting Wheel (6), it also runs through the feedingspring (8), the fork lock (4), the threaded bushing (ll) and the resistingspring (10). When the shaft (7) tums, the threaded bushing (ll) tums Withit, due to the splined shape (rectangular in fig. 6 and fig. 7) Which both theshaft (7) and the hole through the threaded bushing (ll) have in common.The rotation of the threaded bushing (ll) causes it to change position insidethe fork lock (4), Which also is intemally threaded (see fig. 5). The threadedbushing (ll) functions much like a screW inside the fork lock (4), moving axially up and doWn depending on Which Way it is being turned.

Between the threaded bushing (11) and the bottom of the slider (3), theresisting spring (10) is located. By moving the threaded bushing (11) upand down inside the fork lock (4), different amount of space is left for theresisting spring (10). This forces the fork lock (4) to slide up or doWnrelative to the slider (3), in Which the midmost part of the fork lock (4) isable to partially slide in or out of. The distance between the bottom end ofthe slider (3) and the bottom end of the fork lock (4) therefore changes asthe position of the threaded bushing (11) changes inside the fork lock (4).

As the amount of leash (1) on the roller (2) alters depending on the distancebetWeen user and leashed being, so does the radius of the up-rolled leash(1). At the same time, the slider (3) abuts against the leash (1) on the roller(2), made sure by the feeding spring (8) that constantly puts pressure on therest of the mechanism. When the radius of the up-rolled leash (1) varies,the slider (3) folloWs and changes radial position together With the resistingspring (10), threaded bushing (ll) and fork lock (4), all sliding along theshaft (7). Therefore, When the leash (1) is being pulled out, the fork lock (4)moves closer to the roller (2) to eventually latch onto its teeth, making theroller (2) unable to rotate and the leash (1) unable to unWind further. Byadjusting the relative distance betWeen the bottom end of the slider (3) andthe bottom end of the fork lock (4) in the manner previously described,different lengths of the leash (1) is required to be pulled out in order for thefork lock (4) to engage With the roller (2). As the distance betWeen user andleashed being lessens, the radius of the up-rolled leash (1) increases, thuscausing the fork lock (4) to disengage and the leash (1) to be Wound backup onto the roller (2).

.The radial Velocity of the fork lock (4) is loW in comparison to therotational Velocity of the roller (2). Therefore, the braking procedure mightnot have Worked smoothly if it Would not have been for tWo propertiesregarding both the roller (2) as Well as the fork lock (4). Both the teeth onthe roller (2) and the hooks on the fork lock (4) are angled so that saidcomponents attract each other When countered, thus causing the fork lock(4) to engage fully. Only one of the teeth on the roller (2) goes all the Wayout to the very periphery. This is the first tooth that the fork lock (4)encounters and for that reason the only tooth that the forklike lock (4)engages With, When the automatic brake employs. The fork lock (4) cantherefore travel a greater radial distance before encountering a tooth, than ifall small teeth Would have been full-length. This generates a cleaner contactbetWeen the teeth of the roller (2) and the hooks of the fork lock (4),preventing the fork lock (4) to make contact With several teeth on the roller(2) before fully engaging. Less component Wear and a smoother operationfollow as results. The reason for having several shorter teeth on the roller (2), is to enable a quick engagement of the manual brake.

Claims (1)

1. A retractable leash device for rolling up and unrolling a leash, the leash device comprising: a carrier (9), a roller (2) mounted rotatably on the carrier (9), a resettingmeans for resetting the leash (1) on the roller (2) into a rolled-upposition, in Which the leash (1) is Wound up onto the roller (2),characterized in a blocking device comprising a slider (3) incontact With the rolled-up leash(1), said slider (3) guided in a fork lock(4) for blocking the roller (2), the radial position of the fork lock (4)With an internal thread and a threaded bushing (11) pushing the resistingspring (10) against the slider (3), said threaded bushing (11) With asplined hole in the center With an equivalent spline shaped shaft (7)Which by rotation adjusts the position of the fork lock (4) for blocking the leash (1) at various maximum extensions.A retractable leash device in accordance With claim 1, characterized in part(s) of the fork lock (4) protruding throughand supported by the carrier in one or tWo track openings in said carrier (9) comprising pushbuttons (5) for locking.A retractable leash device in accordance With claim 1-2, characterized in the splined shaft (7) at the outmost end fromthe center of the roller (2) With a disc and a gear supported radially by the carrier (9).A retractable leash device in accordance With claim 1-3, characterized in the splined shaft (7) supported axially With the in claim 3 mentioned disc in a track inside the adjusting Wheel (6).A retractable leash device in accordance With claim 1-4, characterized in the adjusting Wheel (6) comprising an intemal2 (2) gear in contact With the gear of the splined shaft (7), thereby possible torotate the said shaft (7).A retractable leash device in accordance With claim 1-5, characterized in the adjusting Wheel (6) rotatably supported by the carrier (9) and protruding the carrier (9) for maneuvering.A retractable leash device in accordance With claim 1-6, characterized in fork lock (4) With tWo hooks slightly angledfor locking of the roller (2).A retractable leash device in accordance With claim 1-7, characterized in the roller (2) With an angle corresponding tothe fork lock (4) to ensure lockingA retractable leash device in accordance With claim 1-8,characterized in the roller (2) With one big tooth and several small teeth.