WO2014170629A1

WO2014170629A1 - Dual retractable lead assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2014170629A1
Application number: PCT/GB2014/050506
Authority: WO
Inventors: Arthur Leslie TOMLINSON
Original assignee: Tomlinson Arthur Leslie
Priority date: 2013-04-18
Filing date: 2014-02-20
Publication date: 2014-10-23
Also published as: GB201307041D0; GB201403035D0; GB2514641A

Abstract

A retractable lead assembly includes a rotatably mounted winding spool (21) and two retractable lead sections (19, 20), joined to the winding spool (21) which may be simultaneously wound onto or from the spool (21). A retraction mechanism (46) will rotate the winding spool (21) to retract the lead sections (19, 20) and a jamming mechanism (52) is adapted independently to jam one or both lead sections (19, 20). A manually graspable housing (10), containing the winding spool (21) and jamming mechanism (52), has two spaced locations (18) from which the lead sections (19, 20) will separately extend in use.

Description

DUAL RETRACTABLE LEAD ASSEMBLY

This invention relates to a retractable lead assembly having two separate flexible lead sections and a spool to and from which the lead sections are wound during use or for storage. The invention also relates to an animal training and harness device incorporating such a retractable lead assembly.

This invention has been developed principally for use as an animal lead and particularly for a dog lead. The invention will hereinafter be described predominantly in relation to such dog leads but it will be appreciated that the device may be used with leads for other animals, humans or objects such as children's harnesses.

Retractable lead assemblies are commonly used for dog leads and these generally comprise a housing have a rotatable spool therein around which the lead may be wound. In such arrangements there is an automatic retraction mechanism which urges the lead into the housing but where extension of the lead out of the housing can be prevented by manual operation of a button on the housing. US Patent Publication No. 2013/0125832 describes such a retractable lead assembly. This assembly is also configured to operate automatically in order to prevent extension of the lead from the housing upon a certain amount of tension being applied to the lead. This is advantageous from a safety perspective as it prevents a dog, connected to the lead, from bolting unexpectedly. US Patent Publication No. 2006/0201449 is designed to incorporate two dog leads into a single housing for connection to multiple dogs. The device does not operate automatically and relies merely on manual operation to prevent extension of the lead from the housing. Furthermore, the housing of this device needs to be sufficiently large to contain two separate spool mechanisms. It is a principal aim of the present invention to provide a retractable lead assembly having two leads extending therefrom each having independent jamming mechanisms. It is a secondary aim to provide a complete animal harness including such a lead assembly.

According to this invention, there is provided a retractable lead assembly comprising: - a rotatably mounted winding spool;

- two retractable lead sections, joined to the winding spool and which may be simultaneously wound onto or from the spool;

- a retraction mechanism that will rotate the winding spool to retract the lead sections;

- a jamming mechanism adapted independently to jam one or both lead sections; and,

- a manually graspable housing containing the winding spool and jamming mechanism and having two spaced locations from which the lead sections will separately extend in use.

The jamming mechanism may comprise two distinct jamming assemblies, one associated with each of the lead sections. Such jamming assemblies may be independently and/or simultaneously operable to jam one, the other or both lead sections.

The jamming mechanism may be configured such that it is selectively operable by a user to jam one or both lead section and/or that is automatically operable in response to excess tension in a lead section to jam that lead section. This automatic jamming means prevent unwinding of the or each lead section if too hard a pull is exerted on one or both lead section.

A wide variety of jamming methodologies are applicable to the present invention, but it is preferred that the jamming mechanism or each jamming assembly includes cooperating jamming surfaces between which part of a lead section is jammed. Those jamming surfaces may be brought together to grip the material of a lead section. The jamming surfaces may be profiled such that greater tension on the lead section urges them more tightly to engage the lead section.

Preferably the automatic jamming is achieved by the lead sections passing through jamming assemblies in such a way that excess tension in a lead section urges a blocking member within the relevant jamming assembly into a position where it jams the lead section against another jamming surface. The blocking member may be urged away from engagement by a biasing member such as a spring. The level of tension at which the jamming mechanism automatically engages may at least in part be controlled by the resilience of that biasing member. Ideally the lead sections follow a non-linear path through the jamming assemblies around the blocking member and increasing tension on the lead will tend to straighten that path thereby moving the blocking member against the bias.

Any suitable type of retraction mechanism may be used to rotate the spool to wind the lead sections thereon. Ideally the retraction mechanism includes a spring that is tensioned by rotation of the spool as the lead sections unwind. The release of tension on the lead sections permits the retraction mechanism to reverse the rotation and rewind the spool. A mechanism to suspend or disengage the retraction mechanism may also be provided to prevent retraction when undesired.

The lead sections may advantageously be formed from a single length of flexible lead material such as webbing. The lead section may be integral or joined at a point of connection to the winding spool. The lead sections may also or instead be integral or joined at opposite ends of the lead sections, i.e. those remote from the winding spool. The ends remote from the winding spool may (if not integral) each be provided with releasable connectors, such as clips or caribenas.

The housing is intended to be grasped by a user. It may be configured to be grasped manually by one or both of a user's hands. An operating button or other mechanism for the selective activation of the jamming mechanism may be provided on the outside of the housing for easy activation.

Ideally the housing completely encloses the winding spool and parts of the lead sections that are wound thereon. The jamming mechanism may be contained within the housing. The housing may include guides for the lead sections such that the paths thereof are controlled. These may include rollers, pins or lugs around which the lead sections pass to change direction. The housing may define two spaced apart openings through which the lead sections separately extend, one per opening. Jamming assemblies may be provided at or adjacent each opening. The lead sections may be wound to and from the winding spool in a variety of ways. The two lead sections may be wound as an overlapping pair on the same location. Alternatively they may be wound as distinct coils adjacent each other.

The winding spool may have a cylindrical winding surface for the lead to be wound around. Preferably, a flange projects radially from the winding surface part-way between axial ends thereof, defining separate winding locations for the lead sections. It will be appreciated that the flange on the winding surface of the spool maintains separate the two lead sections. Though there still may be overlapping turns in each separation section of the lead, depending upon the length of the lead to each side of the flange and the diameter of the cylindrical winding surface of the spool, in view of the much reduced length of lead (typically around one half) wound on each part of the spool, the likelihood of binding turns or other entanglement is greatly reduced.

According to a second embodiment of this invention there is provided an animal training device including a harness to be worn by the animal and a retractable lead assembly as described herein attached to the harness. To obtain optimum performance as a training device the harness preferably is configured such that the outer ends of the lead sections can be secured to the harness to enable variable control at both sides of the animal. In this way, the harness may extend from both sides of the animal or the lead may secure to the harness at both sides of the animal.

According to a third embodiment of this invention there is provided a retractable lead assembly as described herein, wherein the lead sections are configured to serve as a harness to be worn by the animal. This may be achieved by providing a continuous lead (in which the ends of the lead sections remote from the winding spool are integral or joined) which can be placed around the animal to be secured thereto. This arrangement serves as a lead, as a training device and also as a harness and facilitates directional control of the animal. By way of example only, one specific embodiment of retractable lead assembly of this invention will now be described in detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which:-

Figure 1 is a general isometric view from above and to one side of retractable lead assembly of this invention;

Figure 2 is a cross sectional front view through the lead assembly of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a an exploded view of the assembly of Figures 1 and 2; and, Figures 4 and 5 show the jamming assembly of the retractable lead assembly in use, respectively in a release position and in a jamming position.

As shown in Figure 1 , the embodiment of retractable lead assembly has a housing 10 of generally oblong cross-sectional shape and having substantially planar front and rear faces 1 1 , 12, conjoined by side walls 13 and top and bottom walls 14, 15. The side, top and bottom walls 13, 14, 15 may be integrally formed with the front face 1 1 and the rear face 12 may be separately formed and then attached to the walls 13, 14, 15, by an adhesive or otherwise snap-fitted thereto. Alternatively, the walls 13, 14, 15 could be integral with the rear face 12, or there could be part integral with the rear face 12 and part integral with the front face 1 1 with a join-line approximately in the middle of the walls 13, 14, 15. Though not shown in the drawings, the housing 10 may be shaped for snug engagement with a user's hand and may include smooth projections or recesses which could serve as thumb or finger rests. All or part of the housing may be knurled so as to provide grip for holding the assembly. Other appropriate modifications to the housing are possible to increase its ergonomic suitability and comfort.

Openings 17, 18 are formed through each side wall 13 on opposite sides. Lead sections 19, 20 extend through each opening 17, 18 and are connected to a rotatable spool 21 mounted within the housing 10. The housing 10 is shaped such that it extends adjacent the openings 17, 18 beyond the bulk of the top wall 14 to ensure that the lead 22 is spaced from the user's hand to avoid friction burns or rubbing. The side walls 13, 14, 15 are configured to define a channel 23 extending from each opening 17, 18 to guide the lead 22 out of the assembly and thus minimise the risk of entangling. A manually operable bar 24 is visible on the housing 10, as will be described in more detail below.

Referring now to Figures 2 to 5, the internal arrangement of the lead assembly will now be described. The spool 21 is mounted within the housing 10 for rotation. It has a cylindrical winding surface 27 which is divided in two by a flange 28 projecting radially outwardly from the winding surface 27, approximately mid-way between axial ends thereof. The spool 21 has a cylindrical wall 29 the outer surface of which provides the winding surface 27 and around which the lead 22 is wound when the assembly is in use. Two slots 30, 31 are formed through the cylindrical wall 29 of the spool 21 for a purpose to be described below. Radially inwards of the cylindrical wall 29, there is a circular plate 32 extending in a radial plane and having a central circular aperture 33. The flange 28 is co-planar with that plate 32 and extends radially outwardly from the cylindrical wall 29. The plate 32 and flange 28 are disposed midway between the axial ends of the cylindrical wall 29, such that the winding surface 27 of the spool 21 to each side of the flange 28 has the same axial length.

As visible in Figure 3 only, a hook 36 projects from the circular plate 32 of the spool 21 adjacent an opening 37 formed through the cylindrical wall 29 and flange 28. This arrangement allows connection to a loop formed in a length of lead 22. The lead sections 19, 20 may be integral and if a loop is formed therebetween the loop may be passed through the opening 37 in the cylindrical wall 29 and flange 28 and engage with the hook 36 so that rotation of the spool 21 will wind the lead 22 onto the spool 21. One side of the loop is part of one lead section 19 and is wound one side of the flange 28. The other side of the loop is part of the other lead section 20 and is wound on the other side of the flange 28.

The lead sections 19, 20 are wound onto the spool 21 in the same direction but as the lead sections 19, 20 extend in opposite directions to the openings 17, 18 the lead sections 19, 20 must be appropriately directed and turned through the housing 10. This is achieved by a rollers 38 connected to the housing 10 and around which the lead 22 passes. Further guides for the lead sections 19, 20 are provided by rollers 39 adjacent the openings 17, 18 to enable the paths of the lead sections 19, 20 to be controlled.

The rear housing part defining the rear face 12 includes an inwardly projecting hollow boss 42 having a hollow stub 43 of reduced diameter remote from the rear face 12, with a shoulder 44 formed between the boss 42 and stub 43. The spool 21 is rotatably mounted on the stub 43 with an anti-friction washer 45 located on the stub 43 and bearing against the shoulder 44. A flat spirally-wound spring 46 has its outer end 47 extend into one of the slots 30 in the cylindrical wall 29 over the outer surface and hooked into the other slot 31 and its inner end 48 hooked into a slit 49 in the stub 43. Rotation of the spool 21 in a counter-clockwise sense tensions the spring 46. Once tensioned, by such rotation the spool 21 will try to rewind the lead sections 19, 20 should the tension in the lead sections fall below that of the spring 46. When released, the action of the spring 46 will turn the spool 21 in a clockwise sense.

Two jamming assemblies 52 are provided and these each include a blocking member 53 having a jamming surface 54 which is configured to move relatively toward a cooperating jamming surface 55 provided on a corresponding jamming member 56. The lead sections 19, 20 pass through the jamming assemblies 52, 53 between these jamming surfaces 54, 55 as they exit the housing 10. The blocking members 53 are movably connected to the housing 10 by a pin 59 which projects from the rear face 12 and are biased into a non-engaging position by a helical coil spring 60.

The lead sections 19, 20 follow a non-linear path through the jamming assemblies 52 around the blocking member 53 and increasing tension on a lead section 19, 20 will try to straighten that path thereby moving the associated blocking member 53 against the bias. When excess tension is applied the blocking member 53 is urged to engage a portion of the lead section and force it against the other jamming surface 55. The jamming member 56 defines separate jamming surfaces 55 associated with each of the two jamming assemblies 52. The jamming member 56 is also movable to permit selective user controlled jamming as discussed below. In addition to automatic operation, the lead sections 19, 20 may be manually jammed so that a user may selectively jam one or both lead sections 19, 20. This is achieved by pressing the bar 24 at one or both ends. The bar 24 is operatively connected to the jamming member 56, and both are urged away from a position whereat jamming occurs. Pushing the bar 24 urges the one or both jamming surface 55 on the jamming member 56 towards the lead section(s) 19, 20 and blocking member(s) 53 so that the lead section(s) 19, 20 is(are) engaged between the respective jamming surfaces 54, 55. In this way the extension of one or both lead section 19, 20 can be selectively manually controlled in addition to the automatic control discussed above.

This embodiment described may, if connected to both sides of an animal harness , serve as an animal training device allowing the direction of movement of the animal to be controlled by selectively engaging and disengaging the blocking members 53 and/or by changing the orientation of the housing 10.

Claims

A retractable lead assembly comprising:

- a rotatably mounted winding spool;

A retractable lead assembly as claimed in claim 1 in which the jamming mechanism has two jamming assemblies, one associated with each of the lead sections.

A retractable lead assembly as claimed in claim 2 in which the jamming assemblies are independently and/or simultaneously operable to jam one, other or both lead section.

A retractable lead assembly as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the jamming mechanism or each jamming assembly includes cooperating jamming surfaces between which part of a lead section is jammed.

A retractable lead assembly as claimed in claim 4 in which one or both lead sections pass through a jamming assembly in such a way that excess tension in that lead section urges a blocking member defining one of the jamming surfaces into a position where it jams the lead section against the other jamming surface.

A retractable lead assembly as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the jamming mechanism is configured such that it may be selectively operated by a user to jam one or both lead section and such that it will also jam automatically in response to excess tension in a lead section to jam that lead section.

7. A retractable lead assembly as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the retraction mechanism includes a spring that is tensioned by rotation of the spool as the lead sections unwind.

8. A retractable lead assembly as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the lead sections are integral or joined at a point of connection to the winding spool.

9. A retractable lead assembly as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the lead sections are integral or joined at ends of the lead sections remote from the winding spool.

10. A retractable lead assembly as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which ends of the lead sections remote from the winding spool are each provided with releasable connectors.

1 1 . A retractable lead assembly as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the spaced apart locations are openings in the housing through which the lead sections extend.

12. A retractable lead assembly as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the winding spool has a flange defining separate winding locations for the lead sections on a common drum.

13. An animal training device including a harness to be worn by the animal and a retractable lead assembly as claimed in any of the preceding claims attached to the harness.

14. An animal training device comprising a retractable lead assembly as claimed in any of claims 1 to 12, wherein the lead sections are configured to serve as a harness to be worn by the animal.