Retractable two-pet leash

• US 6,792,893 B1
• Filed: 01/28/2003
• Issued: 09/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Diane Ellen Quintero, Omar Alberto Quintero
• Original Assignee: Diane Ellen Quintero, Omar Alberto Quintero
• Inventors: Quintero, Diane Ellen, Quintero-Carmona, Omar Alberto
• Primary Examiner(s): Abbott, Yvonne R.
• Application Number:
  US10/353,362
• Time in Patent Office: 602 Days
• Field of Search: 119/796, 119/797, 119/798, 119/794, 119/787, 119/770, 119/795, 242/382, 254/399, 254/401, 254/409
• US Class Current: 119/796
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 27/004 Retractable leashes

Abstract

A retractable leash for two animals which includes two spool assemblies (24A and 24B) for individual extension and retraction of each animal'"'"'s cord. Each animal'"'"'s cord is controlled by a button and locking mechanism. The cord holes (20A and 20B) where the leash cords (12A and 12B) exit are opposite of each other to minimize or prevent entanglement. If the leash cords cross, the operator need only rotate the lease handgrip (38) to uncross the cords. In one locking design, braking and locking buttons (18A, 18B, 18C, 18D and 16A, 16B, 16C, 16D) are placed on both the top and bottom of the leash handgrip (38) so that the operator may turn the leash and be immediately ready to control the forward movement of the animals. The leash may also be adapted to mount on the animal'"'"'s collars as separate units which fasten together to form one walking leash.

Claims

1. A device for walking two animals simultaneously, comprising:

a. a housing having a means for enabling an operator to grasp said housing,

b. two separate spool assemblies rotatably mounted inside said housing,

c. two separate leashes mounted on said respective spool assemblies,

d. said respective spool assemblies being arranged to selectively wind said respective leashes,

e. said housing having two apertures, said leashes extending out of said housing through said respective apertures, said apertures being located so that said leashes extend out of said housing in the sane general directions so that said leashes may be used to control two animals by a single person holding said housing,

f. each of said leashes having an end outside said housing with a clip or snap thereat for attaching said leash to a respective animal, and

g. a plurality of buttons on said housing, each of said buttons arranged to inhibit rotation of a respective spool assembly in response to depression of said button and allow rotation of said spool assembly when said button is not depressed,

 

whereby each animal may be kept at its own distance from said person independent of the other animal and said person can maintain control of said animals without fumbling with two individual devices.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said buttons are located on opposite sides of said housing, whereby said operator may turn said housing one-half turn and be able to depress a button in a top position of said housing.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said buttons on each housing side are close enough to each other so that said operator can depress said buttons simultaneously, whereby said operator may simultaneously stop the spooling of both said leashes and in turn control the movement of both said animals.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the tops of said buttons overhang and extend toward one another so that said buttons may be pressed simultaneously and more easily.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said buttons controlling each animal are different in color to make it easier for said operator to distinguish between them.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein the leash for each animal matches that animal'"'"'s button to make it easier to distinguish the button which controls a respective animal.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein said housing has two halves for said respective animals, each half being different in color to enable said operator to distinguish which housing half and the parts inside control which animal.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein each housing half matches the color of its animal'"'"'s leash to make it easier to distinguish the half controlling each animal.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein said housing is split into two halves as two separate units and the two individual units are removably secured to one another to effectively form a single unit.

10. An apparatus for walking two animals concurrently, including:

a. means for permitting an operator to hold said apparatus,

b. a housing or casing containing two separate rotatable wheels which operate as part of two spool assemblies,

c. a pair of braking buttons which operate to halt the motion of said respective rotatable wheels,

d. two leash cords or belts which extend or retract from said housing depending upon distance of animal to operator and operator'"'"'s use of said braking buttons,

e. means for attaching said cords to a pair of respective animals, and

f. two holes in said housing through which said cords exit said housing in the same general direction.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein said buttons are located on opposite sides of said housing, whereby said operator may turn said housing one-half turn and be able to depress a button in a top position of said housing.

12. The device of claim 10 wherein said buttons on each housing side are close enough to each other so that said operator can depress said buttons simultaneously, whereby said operator may simultaneously stop the spooling of both said cords and in turn control the movement of both said animals.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein the tops of said buttons overhang and extend toward one another so that said buttons may be pressed simultaneously and more easily.

14. The device of claim 10 wherein said buttons controlling each animal are different in color to make it easier for said operator to distinguish between them.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein the cord for each animal matches that animal'"'"'s button to make it easier to distinguish the button which controls a respective animal.

16. The device of claim 10 wherein said housing has two halves for said respective animals, each half being different in color to enable said operator to distinguish which housing half and the parts inside control which animal.

17. The device of claim 16 wherein each housing half matches the color of its animal'"'"'s leash cord to make it easier to distinguish the half controlling each animal.

18. The device of claim 10 wherein said housing is split into two halves as two separate units and the two individual units are removably secured to one another to effectively form a single unit.

19. A method for walking two animals, comprising:

a. providing a retractable device with two spool assemblies, including two respective rotatable wheels, said two spool assemblies being arranged to release respective leashes from said rotatable wheels and to turn to take up said leashes on said rotatable wheels,

b. providing a braking means for stopping the motion of said rotatable wheels so as to allow an operator to control the movement of said animals,

c. providing a handgrip or loop for said operator to grasp,

d. providing means for keeping each spool assembly separate and contained,

e. providing means for keeping said leashes separate,

f. attaching said leashes to a respective pair of animals,

g. holding said handgrip or said loop, and

h. pressing said braking means to stop the motion of said rotatable wheels so as to stop the release of said leashes.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein said spool assemblies and said leashes are housed separately as two individual units and said two individual units are secured to one another to effectively form a single unit.