Tangle-free lead device for a leash

• US 6,530,345 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2001
• Issued: 03/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Boss Pet Products
• Original Assignee: Boss Pet Products
• Inventors: Donze, William E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jordan, Charles T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nelson, Judith
• Application Number:
  US09/799,823
• Publication Number:
  US 20010022160A1
• Time in Patent Office: 736 Days
• Field of Search: 119/772, 119/774, 119/779, 119/769, 119/792, 242/65.H, 245/981, 245/985, 249/05, D30/153
• US Class Current: 119/774
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 27/005 Quick-couplings, safety-couplings or shock-absorbing devices between leash and collar
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 24/905 Watch chain fastener, e.g. swivel hook

Abstract

A tangle free lead device has a coupler with first and second bores in axial alignment. A first linear element is rotatably received in the first bore and a second linear element is rotatably received in the second bore. A head on each linear element, positioned in a central aperture of a main body of the coupler retains the linear element axially in the coupler. The relative position of the heads of the respective elements also delimit the axial movement of the linear elements relative to each other.

Claims

1. A lead device for a leash, said lead device comprising:

a sleeve;

a lead head with a generally closed bight at a first end thereof; and

a coupler having first and second bores with the sleeve rotatably received in the first bore and the lead head rotatably received in the second bore, such that the sleeve and the lead head are maintained in alignment relative to an axis of the coupler, but the lead head and sleeve are rotatable independent of the coupler about the axis.

2. The lead device of claim 1, wherein the coupler comprises a main body containing the first and second bores and defining a central aperture.

3. The lead device of claim 2, wherein the sleeve has a first end adapted to receive the leash and a second end which is rotatably retained in the first bore by an abruptly larger head which has an external diameter larger than an internal diameter of the first bore, with the second end head situated in the central aperture of the coupler.

4. The lead device of claim 3, wherein the larger head is integrally formed on the sleeve.

5. The lead device of claim 3 wherein the larger head is provided with a bolt, a shaft portion of the bolt threadingly received in the second end of the sleeve.

6. The lead device of claim 2, wherein the lead head has a second end rotatably retained in the first bore by an abruptly larger head that has an external diameter larger than an internal diameter of the second bore, with the second end head situated in the central aperture of the coupler.

7. The lead device of claim 6, wherein the larger head is provided by a bolt, a shaft portion of the bolt threadingly received in the second end of the lead head.

8. The lead device of claim 7, wherein the lead head further comprises a stop element on a shaft portion thereof, positioned to coact with the larger head to limit axial movement of the lead head in the second bore.

9. A lead device for a leash, said lead device comprising:

a sleeve with a first end adapted to receive a cable and a second end;

a lead head with a generally closed bight at a first end thereof; and

a coupler comprising a main body with a first and a second bores and defining a central aperture, with the sleeve rotatably received in the first bore by an abruptly larger head of the sleeve which has an external diameter larger than an internal diameter of the first bore, and a second end of the lead head rotatably received in the second bore by an abruptly larger head which has an external diameter larger than an internal diameter of the second bore, with the respective larger heads each situated in the central aperture of the coupler, such that the sleeve and the lead head are maintained in alignment relative to an axis of the coupler, but the lead head and sleeve are rotatably independent of the coupler about the axis.

11. The lead device of claim 9, wherein the generally closed bight is closed by a bolt action snap.

10. A no-tangle lead device, comprising:

a first linear element;

a second linear element; and

a coupler having first and second bores, the first linear element rotatably received in the first bore and the second linear element rotatably received in the second bore, such that the first linear element and second linear element are maintained in alignment relative to an axis of the coupler, but the second linear element and the first linear element are rotatable independent of the coupler about the axis.