Retractable rope device for unwinding and winding animal rope

Abstract

The invention relates to a retractable rope device for unwinding and winding an animal rope wherein the retractable rope device comprises a housing, a return spring and a reel body rotatably mounted on the housing, the return spring being designed to push or press the reel body back to a winding position, at the winding position, the animal rope is wound onto the reel body. The reel body can be rotated away from the winding position against the restoring force of the restoring spring for unwinding the wound animal rope, and wherein the braking device comprises a braking element designed to brake the rotating reel body, wherein the braking device is designed such that the braking element brakes the reel body due to a braking force automatically generated by an animal cord tension caused by unwinding of the animal cord in the animal cord.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a retractable rope device for unwinding and winding animal ropes. The retractable rope device includes a housing, a rotatable spool body mounted on the housing, and a restoring spring. The restoring spring is designed to push the spool body to a winding position where the animal rope is wound around the spool body. The spool body can rotate away from the winding position against the restoring force of the restoring spring to unwind the wound animal rope. Background Technology

[0002] Such retractable rope devices are also commonly referred to as flexible ropes or self-retracting animal ropes. Known flexible ropes typically consist of an animal rope or strip wound around a reel body with a shell-like handle. A catch hook is positioned at the end of the animal rope or strip, to which the collar of the animal to be guided is attached. The reel body has a helical spring that automatically winds the animal rope as the animal runs toward its owner or the rope holder.

[0003] If the animal runs very far from the rope holder or, consequently, very far from the retractable rope device, causing the animal rope to completely unwind from the reel body, the animal will experience a sudden, sharp pull on its neck, and the rope holder will feel the same pull on their hands or arms, which could even injure the animal. To avoid such injury, and to stop the animal before it reaches the unwound end of the animal rope, it is known in the prior art to equip the retractable rope device with a brake switch that mechanically engages in the reel body and prevents further rotation of the reel body, and thus prevents further unwinding of the animal rope. It is also known that the brake switch brakes the rotation of the reel body until it reaches a stop, so the achievement of the stop and the effect of braking depend on the force applied by the rope holder to the brake switch. The braking effect achieved by means of a brake switch, which depends solely on the force of the rope holder, is not particularly advantageous. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The objective of this invention is to provide a technical solution that offers a simplified, improved, and more efficient retractable rope device in a simple and inexpensive manner, while avoiding the known drawbacks of retractable ropes.

[0005] This objective is achieved by a retractable rope device for unwinding and winding animal ropes, having the features of claim 1.

[0006] A retractable rope device for unwinding and winding animal rope according to the present invention comprises: a housing, a restoring spring, and a spool body rotatably mounted on the housing, wherein the restoring spring is designed to push the spool body back to a winding position in which the animal rope is wound onto the spool body, wherein the spool body can rotate away from the winding position against the restoring force of the restoring spring for unwinding the wound animal rope, wherein the braking device includes a braking element designed to brake the rotating spool body, wherein the braking device is designed such that: a braking force automatically generated by the animal rope tension caused in the animal rope by the unwinding of the animal rope brakes the spool body, and wherein the braking device includes a braking deflection device at which the animal rope is deflected, and the braking deflection device is mounted on the housing to be movable relative to the spool body, and the braking deflection device is designed to transmit the animal rope tension to the braking element.

[0007] Advantageous and practical embodiments of the invention and further developments become apparent from the corresponding dependent claims.

[0008] This invention provides a retractable rope device that solves the aforementioned problems in a structurally simple manner. The self-winding retractable rope device according to the invention includes a braking device designed such that a braking force automatically generated by the tension caused in the animal rope due to unwinding of the animal rope brakes the reel body. For the purposes of this invention, "braking" means both resisting further unwinding of the animal rope by friction and slowing down the reel body through friction, thereby slowing down the unwinding of the animal rope. With the retractable rope device according to the invention, the braking force automatically generated by the tension caused in the animal rope due to winding of the animal rope can brake the reel body before reaching the end of the animal rope. In this way, the invention provides a retractable rope device with an automatic braking function, i.e., when the rope tension is caused by the animal running away from the retractable rope device or the animal rope tension is too high, the braking device automatically brakes or slows down the rotation of the reel body. Because the tension of the animal rope contributes to the braking force via the brake deflection device, the braking force can be varied by the rope guide or the user of the retractable rope device, which holds the animal rope relative to the housing and thus relative to the brake deflection device, so that less, no, or more force is transmitted to the braking element via the deflection of the animal rope.

[0009] In terms of minimal installation space, in embodiments of the invention, it would be particularly advantageous if the braking device included a brake lever mounted on a pivot on the housing, and the braking element attached to the brake lever.

[0010] To ensure the animal rope is automatically wound and the brake lever does not obstruct automatic unwinding, this invention specifies that the brake lever can move from a resting position to a braking position against the force of the restoring element. In the resting position, the reel body can rotate freely; in the braking position, the braking force of the brake element brakes the rotation of the reel body. By designing the restoring spring such that its restoring force determines the tension of the animal rope, the restoring element of the brake element, the coefficient of friction, and the retractable rope device can be designed such that the braking effect, from completely unbraking to locked, can be determined solely by the alignment of the housing relative to the animal rope. If the housing rotates, causing a force component to press against the brake element, a braking effect is produced.

[0011] To prevent damage to the retractable rope device, in embodiments of the invention, it is particularly advantageous if a stop element is arranged on the housing, which restricts the movement of the brake lever in the direction of the braking position to the end braking position.

[0012] In order to prevent the animal rope from being obstructed when unwinding, the present invention specifies in another embodiment that the braking element is attached to the braking lever via a spring element such that when the end braking position is reached, only the maximum spring force of the spring element acts as the braking force on the rotating reel body.

[0013] In addition to the possibility of automatic braking, to optimize manual braking by the rope holder or user of the retractable rope device, the present invention specifies a brake switch movably mounted on the housing, wherein the braking device is also designed such that: the braking element brakes the reel body due to the braking force automatically generated by manual actuation of the brake switch, and / or due to the tension of the animal rope caused by unwinding. According to the retractable rope device of the invention, by means of this brake switch, it becomes possible for: (first) before reaching the end of the animal rope, the braking element brakes the reel body due to the braking force generated by manual operation of the brake switch; or (second) due to the braking force automatically generated by the tension of the animal rope caused by unwinding; or (third) due to the braking force automatically generated by manual operation of the brake switch and the braking force automatically generated by the tension of the animal rope caused by unwinding. In this way, the present invention provides a retractable rope device with an automatic braking function and, when necessary, a braking force amplification function. That is, when the brake switch is actuated, the rope tension caused by an animal running away from the retractable rope device or the animal rope tension causes the braking device to brake the rotation of the reel body in a self-reinforcing manner.

[0014] In another embodiment of the invention, in terms of design, it would be particularly advantageous to attach the brake switch to the brake lever for very small space requirements.

[0015] In another embodiment of the invention, in terms of design, it is particularly advantageous to design the brake lever as a single-sided lever and to arrange the brake deflection device at the free end of the lever.

[0016] For automatic braking of a rotating reel body, it is structurally advantageous if the braking deflection device is designed as a deflection roller that is rotatably mounted and movable relative to the reel body.

[0017] Alternatively, for automatic braking of the rotating spool body, in another embodiment, it may be advantageous to design the braking deflection device as a through-hole opening that is movable relative to the housing and the spool body.

[0018] For design purposes, it is particularly advantageous to form the through-hole opening on the brake lever in another embodiment of the invention.

[0019] For the automatic braking of the rotating reel body, the present invention also advantageously provides that the reel body is mechanically connected to a limiting device, and the limiting device is designed to push the brake lever to the braking position after a predetermined number of rotations of the reel body. In this way, the unwound reel body is braked before reaching the end of the animal rope.

[0020] Finally, in another embodiment of the invention, it is structurally advantageous that the braking element has a brake shoe-like member designed to contact the braking surface of the reel body in order to brake the rotating reel body.

[0021] It is understood that the features described above and those explained below can be used not only in combination in each specific example, but also in other combinations or individually, without exceeding the scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is defined only by the claims. Attached Figure Description

[0022] Further details, features, and advantages of the subject matter of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example.

[0023] The attached diagram shows:

[0024] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a retractable rope according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 2 Figure 1 The schematic diagram of the retractable rope device shown illustrates that braking force is generated due to the manual actuation of the brake switch.

[0026] Figure 3 Figure 1 The schematic diagram of the retractable rope device shown illustrates the braking force automatically generated by manual actuation of the brake switch and by the tension in the animal rope caused by unwinding.

[0027] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of a retractable rope device with braking force limitation according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 5 From Figure 4 A schematic diagram of a retractable rope device, in which the tension of the animal rope is reduced.

[0029] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of a retractable rope device with limitation on the unwinding length of an animal rope according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] Figure 7 A perspective view of the retractable rope device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] Figure 8 Figure 7 Another perspective view of the retractable rope device shown, in which half of the housing of the retractable rope device is omitted, and

[0032] Figure 9 Figure 8 A top view of the retractable rope device shown. Detailed Implementation

[0033] Figures 1 to 9 Different embodiments of the retractable rope device 1 according to the present invention are shown, wherein, Figures 1 to 3 The first embodiment is shown. Figure 4 and Figure 5 The second embodiment is shown. Figure 6 The third embodiment is shown, and Figures 7 to 9 A fourth embodiment is shown. Figures 1 to 9 In this work, the same reference numerals indicate the same parts, such that even if not specifically mentioned in the description of the various figures, the description of these parts should be understood to be generally applicable to all embodiments.

[0034] The general structure of the retractable rope device 1 according to the invention is obvious from all the drawings, such that the following description refers to all the drawings, thereby the retractable rope device only in the context of the drawings. Figures 1 to 7The diagram is shown schematically. Rope 2 is used for the animal (only when...) Figures 1 to 6 The retractable rope device 1 for unwinding and winding (shown in the diagram) includes: a housing 3 (in...) Figures 1 to 6 The retractable rope device 1 includes a retractable rope body 4 (indicated by a dashed line), a rotatable reel body 4 mounted on the housing 3, and a return spring 5. The return spring 5 is designed to push or press the reel body 4 back into the wound position, in which the animal rope 2 is wound on the reel body 4. The reel body 4 can rotate away from the wound position against the restoring force of the return spring 5, allowing the wound animal rope 2 to unwind. A brake switch 6 is also provided, which is movably mounted on the housing 3. According to the invention, the retractable rope device 1 includes a braking device 7. The braking device 7 itself has a braking element 8. The braking element 8 is designed to brake the rotating reel body 4 when the animal rope 2 is unwound. As can be seen from the figures, the braking element 8 may have a brake shoe 9, which is designed to contact the braking surface 10 of the reel body 4 to brake the rotating reel body 4. The braking surface 10 may be designed as part of the circumferential wall of the reel body 4.

[0035] According to the present invention, the braking device 7 is designed such that the braking element 8 brakes the reel body 4 due to the braking force automatically generated by the manual actuation of the brake switch 6 and / or by the braking force automatically generated by the tension of the animal rope caused by the unwinding of the animal rope 2, as will be described in detail below. The design according to the present invention makes it possible for the braking element 8 to brake the reel body 4 before reaching the end of the animal rope 2, (firstly) due to the braking force generated by the manual operation of the brake switch 6, or (secondly) due to the braking force automatically generated by the tension of the animal rope caused by the unwinding of the animal rope 2, or (thirdly) due to the braking force automatically generated by the manual actuation of the brake switch 6 and the braking force automatically generated by the tension 20 of the animal rope caused by the unwinding of the animal rope 2. The second and third braking methods according to the invention are achieved by the following: the braking device 7 has a braking deflection device 11 at which the animal rope 2 is deflected, and the braking deflection device 11 is mounted on the housing 3 so as to be movable relative to the reel body 4, and the braking deflection device 11 is designed to transmit the animal rope tension 20 to the braking element 8. This allows the braking force of the brake switch 6 to increase or automatic braking to occur when the animal moves away from the animal rope holder at a correspondingly high speed and the animal rope 2 unwinds from the reel body 4 at a correspondingly high speed and the brake switch 6 is not actuated.

[0036] refer to Figures 1 to 9As can be seen, the braking device 7 includes a brake lever 12. The brake lever 12 is mounted on a pivot shaft 14 on the housing 3. The brake switch 6 and the braking element 8 are also attached to the brake lever 12. The brake lever 12 is capable of resisting the force of the restoring element 15 from its resting position (see example...). Figure 1 , Figure 5 and Figure 6 Move to the braking position (see example) Figures 2 to 4 In the resting position, the scroll body 4 can rotate freely; in the braking position, the braking force of the braking element 8 brakes the rotation of the scroll body 4. (For example, from...) Figures 1 to 9 As can be seen, the brake lever 12 is designed as a one-sided lever, thus... Figures 1 to 9 In the illustrated embodiment, the brake deflection device 11 is arranged at the free end of the lever. However, other arrangements of the brake deflection device 11 on the brake lever 12 are also conceivable.

[0037] exist Figures 1 to 6 In this design, the braking deflection device 11 is designed as a deflection roller 16, which is rotatably mounted and movable relative to the reel body 4.

[0038] Figures 1 to 3 A first embodiment of the retractable rope device 1 according to the present invention is shown, the structure of which has already been described above. Figure 1 In this configuration, the restoring element 15, designed as a spring element, holds the brake lever 12 in the resting position, such that the brake element 8 is spaced apart from the spool body 4 and does not generate braking on the rotation of the spool body 4. Figure 1 The tension of the animal rope 2 is negligible, causing the restoring force of the restoring spring 5 to resist this tension, and the braking device 7 is not triggered. Figure 2 In, with Figure 1 In contrast, the brake switch 6 of the retractable rope device 1 is actuated by the user and pressed by the actuating force 19. This actuating force 19, due to leverage, generates an increased braking force or increased braking pressure on the braking surface 10 via the brake lever 12, thereby braking the rotation of the reel body 4 and thus braking the unwinding of the animal rope 2. This braking force generates rope tension felt by the tethered animal. Figure 3Different scenarios are illustrated, in which the actuating force 19 is applied by the rope holder via the brake switch 6, and in which, furthermore, the animal rope tension 20 dominates due to the animal moving rapidly away from the rope holder. The animal rope tension 20, acting via a brake deflection device 11 based on the pulley principle, is influenced by factors other than the actuating force 19 applied by the rope holder on the brake device 7 and brake lever 12, thereby generating braking force from the addition of two forces. Therefore, when the force applied by the animal rope tension 20 is less than the user's force, the brake device 7 acts as a braking force amplifier. If the force applied by the animal rope tension 20 is greater than the user's force, then the brake device 7 suddenly locks due to its own amplification.

[0039] Figure 4 A second embodiment of the retractable rope device 1 according to the present invention is shown. In this embodiment, a stop element 21 is arranged on the housing 3, and the stop element 21 restricts the movement of the brake lever 12 in the direction of the braking position to the end braking position (see [link]). Figure 4 This restriction prevents the reel body 4 from being blocked by limiting the braking force. When the animal rope 2 is unwound, the brake deflector 11 or brake lever 12 moves against the stop element 21, such that regardless of whether the brake switch 6 is actuated and / or whether the corresponding animal rope tension acts on the brake deflector 11 and therefore on the brake lever 12, only the maximum force is transmitted from the brake lever 12 to the brake element 8. The maximum force is predetermined by the spring element 22. Figure 4 As can be seen, the braking element 8 is attached to the brake lever 12 via the spring element 22, such that when the brake lever 12 is placed against the stop element 21 at the end braking position (see [reference]), the brake element 8 is engaged in braking. Figure 4 When the maximum spring force or the maximum force of the spring element 22 is applied, only the maximum spring force or the maximum force of the spring element 22 acts as the braking force on the rotating scroll body 4. Figure 5 A second embodiment is also shown, but this second embodiment is in the following condition: the tension of the animal rope has been reduced, so that the actuation pressure 19 no longer acts on the brake switch 6, or the rope holder no longer actuates or presses the brake switch 6. Figure 5 In the case shown, the brake lever 12 moves back to the resting position of the brake lever 12 by means of the restoring element 15, thereby the braking device 7 is no longer activated and effective, and the animal rope 2 is wound onto the reel body 4 by the restoring spring 5.

[0040] Figure 6A third embodiment of the retractable rope device 1 according to the present invention is shown, wherein all components and features of the first and second embodiments described above are implemented in this embodiment. The third embodiment adds additional functionality. In the third embodiment, the braking force is automatically applied only according to the length of the unwound animal rope 2, and for this automatic mechanism, there is no particularly high animal rope tension due to the animal moving rapidly away from the rope guide.

[0041] Therefore, in Figure 6 In the third embodiment shown, after the reel body 4 has rotated a predetermined number of turns corresponding to a predetermined length of the unwound animal rope 2, the corresponding mechanism is automatically triggered, so that the animal first feels the braking force before the "sudden pull" at the end of the rope. This braking force is caused by the animal itself through the tension of the animal rope. Therefore, in the fourth embodiment, the reel body 4 is mechanically connected to the limiting device 23, which is designed to push the brake lever 12 to the braking position after the reel body 4 has rotated a predetermined number of turns. For the mechanical connection, the limiting device 23, designed in a rack and pinion manner, engages with a gear 24, which is arranged on the shaft of the reel body 4.

[0042] Figures 7 to 9 A fourth embodiment of the retractable rope device 1 according to the present invention is shown. The fourth embodiment corresponds structurally to the first embodiment, wherein a handle is formed on the housing 3. In contrast to the other embodiments, in the fourth embodiment, the braking deflection device 11 is designed as a through-hole opening 17. The through-hole opening 17 is movable relative to the housing 3 and the reel body 4. Specifically, as from... Figure 8 and Figure 9 As can be seen, the through-hole opening 17 is formed on the brake lever 12, which is pivotally mounted on the housing 3. It is understood that the features described with respect to the first, second, and third embodiments and schematically shown in the drawings can also be transferred to the fourth embodiment in any combination.

[0043] The invention described above is characterized by a novel braking principle that, on the one hand, increases the braking force. On the other hand, by using a suitable lever-to-size ratio and spring force, this novel braking principle can also be used to trigger braking solely based on the orientation of the animal rope 2 and the position of the housing 3 relative to the animal. This allows for automatic braking of animals moving away from the rope holder without requiring the rope holder to activate the brake switch 6 for this purpose. This automatic braking is achieved by orienting the housing 3 so that the tension of the animal rope is directed in the correct direction, thereby pressing the braking element 8 against the reel body 4.

[0044] Of course, the present invention described above is not limited to the embodiments described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to the embodiments shown in the drawings, depending on the intended application, without departing from the scope of the invention. The invention includes all contents included in the specification and / or all contents shown in the drawings, including any contents different from the specific embodiments that will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

[0045] List of reference numerals

[0046] 1. Retractable rope device

[0047] 2. Animal ropes

[0048] 3. Shell

[0049] 4. Scroll body

[0050] 5. Returning spring

[0051] 6. Brake switch

[0052] 7. Braking device

[0053] 8 Braking components

[0054] 9. Brake shoe-shaped component

[0055] 10 Braking Surface

[0056] 11 Braking deflection device

[0057] 12 Brake lever

[0058] 14 Pivot axis

[0059] 15 Recovery Components

[0060] 16 deflection rollers

[0061] 17. Through-hole opening

[0062] 18. Driving Force

[0063] 19. Motivation

[0064] 20 Animal rope tension

[0065] 21 Stopping element

[0066] 22 Spring elements

[0067] 23. Limiting devices

[0068] 24. Gears.

Claims

1. A retractable rope device (1) for unwinding and winding animal ropes (2), wherein, The retractable rope device (1) includes a housing (3), a restoring spring (5), and a reel body (4) rotatably mounted on the housing (3). The restoring spring (5) is designed to push or press the reel body (4) back to the winding position, in which the animal rope (2) is wound onto the reel body (4). The spool body (4) is capable of rotating away from the winding position against the restoring force of the restoring spring (5) to unwind the wound animal rope (2). The braking device (7) includes a braking element (8) designed to brake the rotating reel body (4). The braking device (7) is designed such that the braking element (8) brakes the reel body (4) due to the braking force automatically generated by the animal rope tension caused by the unwinding of the animal rope (2) within the animal rope, and wherein the braking device (7) includes a braking deflection device (11) at which the animal rope (2) is deflected, and the braking deflection device (11) is mounted on the housing (3) so as to be movable relative to the reel body (4), and the braking deflection device (11) is designed to transmit the animal rope tension to the braking element (8).

2. The retractable rope device (1) according to claim 1, wherein, The braking device (7) includes a brake lever (12) mounted on a pivot (14) of the housing (3), and the braking element (8) is attached to the brake lever (12).

3. The retractable rope device (1) according to claim 2, wherein, The brake lever (12) can move from the resting position to the braking position against the force of the restoring element (15). In the resting position, the spool body (4) can move freely. In the braking position, the braking force of the brake element (8) brakes the rotation of the spool body (4).

4. The retractable rope device (1) according to claim 3, wherein, A stop element (21) is arranged on the housing (3) to restrict the movement of the brake lever (12) in the direction of the braking position to the end braking position.

5. The retractable rope device (1) according to claim 4, wherein, The braking element (8) is attached to the braking lever (12) via a spring element (22) such that when the end braking position is reached, only the maximum spring force of the spring element acts as the braking force on the rotating spool body (4).

6. The retractable rope device (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein, The brake switch (6) is movably mounted on the housing (3), and the braking device (7) is also designed such that the braking element (8) brakes the coil body (4) due to the braking force automatically generated by manual actuation of the brake switch (6) and / or due to the tension of the animal rope caused by unwinding of the animal rope (2).

7. The retractable rope device (1) according to claim 6, wherein, The brake switch (6) is mounted on the brake lever (12).

8. The retractable rope device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The brake lever (12) is designed as a single-sided lever, and the brake deflection device (11) is arranged at the free end of the lever.

9. The retractable rope device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The braking deflection device (11) is designed as a deflection roller (16), which is rotatably mounted and movable relative to the reel body (4).

10. The retractable rope device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The braking deflection device (11) is designed with a through-hole opening (17) that is movable relative to the housing (3) and the reel body (4).

11. The retractable rope device (1) according to claim 10, wherein, The through-hole opening (17) is formed on the brake lever (12).

12. The retractable rope device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The reel body (4) is mechanically connected to a limiting device (23), which is designed to push the brake lever (12) in the direction of the braking position after a predetermined number of rotations of the reel body (4).

13. The retractable rope device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The braking element (8) includes a brake shoe (9) which is designed to contact the braking surface (10) of the reel body (4) in order to brake the rotating reel body (4).

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