Retractable leash assembly with a quick connect coupling assembly

• US 20040200435A1
• Filed: 02/26/2004
• Published: 10/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Swiftipet, Inc.
• Original Assignee: DeBien Products, Inc.
• Inventors: Debien, Humberto
• Granted Patent: US 7,162,978 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 119/772
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 27/005 Quick-couplings, safety-couplings or shock-absorbing devices between leash and collar
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45466 having electric or fluid powered, actuation or release, of interlock

Abstract

A retractable leash assembly structured to facilitate quick connection of at least one animal to at least one lead interconnected at a proximal end to an activation assembly and to a quick connect coupling assembly at a distal end. The quick connect coupling assembly includes an electromotive release mechanism structured to permit removable connection of a collar, harness, or similar attachment assembly to the distal end of the lead. Upon actuation of the electromotive release mechanism, the components of the quick release coupling assembly are disposed into a release orientation such that the components are detached from one another. The quick connect coupling assembly may also include an electromotive propulsion mechanism structured to selectively impart a separation force between the components of the coupling assembly to facilitate detachment of the components from one another.

Claims

1. A quick release coupling assembly structured to allow quick connection and quick release, said coupling assembly comprising:

a first component and a second component cooperatively structured to assume an attached orientation,

said first component comprising at least one locking member movably mounted thereon,

said at least one locking member normally disposed in an outwardly extending locking orientation,

an electromotive release mechanism structured such that said first component and said second component are detached from one another upon actuation of said electromotive release mechanism,

said electromotive release mechanism disposed in an operative association with said one locking member, and

said operative association being at least partially defined by said electromotive release mechanism being structured to normally dispose said locking member into said outwardly extending locking orientation.

2. An assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said at least one locking member is at least temporarily disposable into a retracted orientation.

3. An assembly as recited in claim 2 wherein said operative association is further defined by said electromotive release mechanism being structured to at least temporarily dispose said at least one locking member into said retracted orientation upon actuation.

4. An assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said first component comprises a plurality of locking members movably mounted thereon, said electromotive release mechanism being structured to normally dispose each of said plurality of locking members into said outwardly extending locking orientation.

5. An assembly as recited in claim 4 wherein each of said plurality of locking members is at least temporarily disposable into a retracted orientation.

6. An assembly as recited in claim 5 wherein said electromotive release mechanism is further structured to at least temporarily dispose each of said plurality of locking members into said retracted orientation upon actuation.

7. An assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said electromotive release mechanism comprises an actuation member, said actuation member disposed in operative association with said at least one locking member.

8. An assembly as recited in claim 7 wherein said actuation member comprises a distal portion structured to facilitate disposition of said locking member between said outwardly extending locking orientation and said retracted orientation.

9. An assembly as recited in claim 8 wherein said distal portion comprises a magnetically charged material.

10. An assembly as recited in claim 8 wherein said distal portion comprises a propulsion member.

11. An assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said electromotive release mechanism comprises a shape memory alloy component.

12. An assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said electromotive release mechanism comprises a solenoid.

13. An assembly as recited in claim 12 wherein said electromotive release mechanism comprises a rotary solenoid.

14. An assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said electromotive release mechanism comprises a transformer.

15. An assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said electromotive release mechanism comprises an electric motor.

16. An assembly as recited in claim 1 further comprising a voice activated control module structured to actuate said electromotive release mechanism upon delivery of a verbal command from a user to said voice activated control module.

17. An assembly as recited in claim 16 wherein said operative association is further defined by said electromotive release mechanism structured to at least temporarily dispose said at least one locking member into said retracted orientation upon actuation via said voice activated control module.

18. An assembly as recited in claim 1 further comprising a manual release mechanism structured to permit manual actuation of said electromotive release mechanism.

19. A quick release coupling assembly structured to allow quick connection and quick release, said coupling assembly comprising:

a first component and a second component cooperatively structured to assume an attached orientation when disposed in a predetermined aligned engagement with one another,

said first component comprising at least one locking member movably mounted thereon,

said at least one locking member normally disposed in an outwardly extending locking orientation,

a release structure interconnected to said first component and structured such that said first component and said second component are detached from one another upon disposition of said release structure into a disconnect position, and

an electromotive propulsion mechanism structured to at least temporarily impart a separation force between said first component and said second component.

20. An assembly as recited in claim 19 wherein said electromotive propulsion mechanism is further structured to at least temporarily impart an attraction force between said first and said second components when said components are disposed in said predetermined aligned engagement with one another.

21. An assembly as recited in claim 19 wherein said electromotive propulsion mechanism comprises at least one propulsion member disposed at a propulsion interface of said first and second components, said propulsion member structured to impart said separation force substantially normal to said propulsion interface.

22. An assembly as recited in claim 21 wherein said propulsion member is disposable between a secured configuration and a separated configuration.

23. An assembly as recited in claim 21 where said secured configuration is at least partially defined by said propulsion member disposed in an inwardly retracted position.

24. An assembly as recited in claim 21 wherein said separated configuration is at least partially defined by said propulsion member disposed in an outwardly extended position.

25. An assembly as recited in claim 19 wherein said electromotive propulsion mechanism comprises a plurality of propulsion members disposed at a propulsion interface of said first and second components, each of said propulsion members being structured to impart said separation force substantially normal to said propulsion interface.

26. An assembly as recited in claim 25 wherein each of said propulsion members is disposable between a secured configuration and a separated configuration.

27. An assembly as recited in claim 21 further comprising a sequence control module structured to communicatively associate with said electromotive propulsion mechanism, said sequence control module further structured to control a sequence of positioning of said at least one locking member and said at least one propulsion member.

28. An assembly as recited in claim 19 further comprising a voice activated control module structured to dispose said release structure into said disconnect position upon delivery of a verbal command to said voice activated control module.

29. A retractable leash assembly structured to allow quick connection and release of a plurality of animals therefrom, said assembly comprising:

a plurality of leads each comprising a proximal end and an oppositely disposed distal end,

a plurality of coupling assemblies each comprising a first component, each said first component interconnected to a different one of said plurality of leads at said distal end thereof,

each of said plurality of coupling assemblies further comprising a second component interconnected to a different one of a plurality of attachment assemblies, each of said plurality of attachment assemblies structured to engage a different one of the plurality of animals,

a housing comprising an activation assembly, said housing structured to allow at least a portion of each of said leads to pass therethrough,

said activation assembly further comprising a drive mechanism,

said proximal end of each of said plurality of leads interconnected to at least a portion of said drive mechanism,

said drive mechanism structured to release said portion of each of said leads from said housing, and

said drive mechanism further structured to retract said portion of each of said leads into said housing.

30. An assembly as recited in claim 29 wherein said drive mechanism is structured to simultaneously release said portion of each of said leads from said housing in a uniform manner.

31. An assembly as recited in claim 29 wherein said drive mechanism is structured to simultaneously retract said portion of each of said leads into said housing in a uniform manner.

32. An assembly as recited in claim 29 wherein said drive mechanism is structured to independently release said portion of each of said leads from said housing.

33. An assembly as recited in claim 29 wherein said drive mechanism is structured to independently retract said portion of each of said leads into said housing.

34. An assembly as recited in claim 29 wherein said drive mechanism further comprises a drive motor.

35. An assembly as recited in claim 34 wherein said activation assembly further comprises a voice activated control module.

36. An assembly as recited in claim 35 wherein said voice activated control module is disposed in a communicative association with said drive motor.

37. An assembly as recited in claim 36 wherein said communicative association is at least partially defined by said drive motor operating to retract said portion of at least one of said plurality of leads into said housing upon delivery of a verbal command from a user to said voice activated control module.

38. An assembly as recited in claim 37 wherein said communicative association is further defined by said drive motor operating to retract said portion of each of said plurality of leads into said housing upon delivery of said verbal command from a user to said voice activated control module.

39. An assembly as recited in claim 36 wherein said communicative association is at least partially defined by said drive motor operating to release said portion of at least one of said plurality of leads from said housing upon delivery of a verbal command from a user to said voice activated control module.

40. An assembly as recited in claim 39 wherein said communicative association is further defined by said drive motor operating to release said portion of each of said plurality of leads from said housing upon delivery of a verbal command from a user to said voice activated control module.

41. An assembly as recited in claim 29 wherein said activation assembly further comprises a rechargeable power supply.

42. An assembly as recited in claim 41 wherein said rechargeable power supply comprises a rechargeable direct current battery pack.

43. An assembly as recited in claim 41 wherein said housing further comprises a recharge port structured to permit interconnection of said rechargeable power supply to a power source, thereby permitting recharge of the rechargeable power supply.