Animal restraint storage receptacle

• US 6,019,067 A
• Filed: 10/13/1995
• Issued: 02/01/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aspen Pet Products Incorporated (Petmate)
• Original Assignee: Cider Mill Farms Co., Inc. (Petmate)
• Inventors: Carey, Freddie
• Primary Examiner(s): Carone, Michael J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHAW, ELIZABETH ANNE
• Application Number:
  US08/543,187
• Time in Patent Office: 1,572 Days
• Field of Search: 119/792, 119/793, 119/795, 119/797, D30/153
• US Class Current: 119/795
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 27/006 with light-emitting or ornamental devices

Abstract

An article-carrying receptacle for attachment to a leash includes a body portion for holding articles placed therein while providing access to the contents thereof by a free hand of the individual holding the handle portion of the leash in a remaining hand. The receptacle is supportingly securable to the leash for use in a manner permitting one-hand operation of the entry closure by the free hand. In an advantageous embodiment the receptacle body portion is in the form of an elongated pouch, receivable in a position proximal a handle portion of a leash, or mounted directly thereto, in the longitudinal direction. A closable opening is conveniently provided along the length of the receptacle for accessing the interior thereof, positioned to provide access by a free hand of the individual. In another embodiment, a combination of a receptacle, and a handle portion of a leash on which the receptacle is received includes a triangularly configured handle portion, advantageously having the shape of either a substantially isosceles or substantially right triangle.

Claims

1. In an animal restraint comprising a running portion, an end of which is engagable with a collar of an animal, and a handle portion disposed at a remaining end of said running portion, the combination with an article receptacle comprising:

a body portion having a space for holding articles and including means for accessing said space;

means for mounting said body portion on said restraint with said body portion disposed in a position therealong permitting user access to said articles with one hand while said user is gripping said handle portion with a second hand, said mounting means inhibiting substantial movement of the body portion on said restraint, thereby facilitating user one-handed accessing of said articles; and

substantially the entire body portion being mounted at said handle portion in a position spanning a portion of said handle portion, a remaining portion of said handle portion not spanned by said body portion providing a grip region over at least a portion thereof, the length of said remaining portion being substantially greater than a distance between a junction of said remaining end and said handle portion, and an end of said body portion closest to said junction.

2. In an animal restraint comprising a running portion, an end of which is engagable with a collar of an animal, and a handle portion disposed at a remaining end of said running portion, the combination with an article receptacle comprising:

a body portion having a space for holding articles and including means for accessing said space;

means for mounting said body portion on said restraint with said body portion disposed in a position therealong permitting user access to said articles with one hand while said user is gripping said handle portion with a second hand, said mounting means inhibiting substantial movement of the body portion on said restraint, thereby facilitating user one-handed accessing of said articles;

said handle portion including a grip portion;

said handle being triangularly configured, a first and a second side thereof diverging from said remaining end of said running portion, and a third side including said grip portion; and

said body portion is mounted to said handle portion, received on one of said first and second sides.

3. The combination according to claim 2, wherein:

said grip portion is rigid, and extends substantially the length of said third side.

4. The combination according to claim 2, wherein:

an angle described between said first and said third sides is substantially a right angle.

5. The combination according to claim 2, wherein:

an angle described between said first and said third sides being substantially a right angle; and

said body portion is received on said second side.

6. The combination according to claim 5, wherein:

a forward included angle between said first and second sides is substantially equal to a rear included angle between said second and third sides.

7. The combination according to claim 5, wherein:

a forward included angle between said first and second sides is greater than a rear included angle between said second and third sides.

8. In an animal restraint, a handling feature comprising:

a continuous length of material comprising a running portion and a handle portion disposed at a one end thereof, said handle portion being defined by a looped end portion of said material, a terminal end of which is fastened by separate securing means to said leash material a distance from said terminal end;

said handle portion including a grip portion;

said handle being triangularly configured, a first side being a contiguous extension of said running portion, a second side extending a distance from said terminal end, and a third side disposed between said first and second sides; and

an angle described between said first and said third sides is substantially a right angle, whereby when said grip portion is held in an extended arm of a user, as tensioning forces are applied to said running portion, said tensioning forces are transmitted primarily through said first side, whereby a resultant reduction in an amount of force transmitted across a union between said terminal end and said leash material to which it is fixed to define said handle portion inhibits separation of said union.

9. The handling feature according to claim 8, wherein:

said grip portion is rigid, and extends substantially the length of said third side.