Leash safety device for hanging over the shoulder

Abstract

Leash safety device for hanging over the head (1) for reliably securing pet leashes to the body of the owner while ensuring maximum protection of his health, characterized in that a double-layered webbing is divided into an upper (3) and lower (4) area by a webbing slider (2).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a leash safety device for hanging around the neck.

[0002] There are currently no commercially available leash restraints or other devices for securing pet leashes to the owner's body [for better readability, gender-specific language is avoided throughout this document; male pronouns apply to all genders in the interest of equal treatment] that prevent the animal from accidentally escaping and at the same time provide the owner with maximum health security.

[0003] To attach the dog to the owner's body by hanging it around his neck, there are only so-called lanyards, which are relatively short and are attached directly to the animal's collar with a carabiner at the end.

[0004] Special harnesses are available for joggers and cyclists, allowing them to carry their pets hands-free during exercise. An external leash can be attached to these harnesses. Some are also available with integrated leashes that can be attached directly to the pet's collar. Locations

[0005] Hundefreund Running Leash - Extra lightweight, stretchy dog ​​leash for medium and large dogs https: / / hundefreund.com / collections / joggingleine / products / hundefreundlaufleine-besonders-leichte-dehnbare-hundeleine-fur-mittlere-und-grosse-hunde Niggeloh GRIP Wide Shoulder Leash https: / / www.sporthund.de / niggeloh-umhaengeleine-grip-breit RSG Sports / Equipment Belt https: / / kurgo.com.de / products / rsg-sport-ausrustungsgurtel

[0006] Pet owners, especially dog ​​owners, lead their animals on various leashes—when moving them to another location or taking them for walks. The leashes are generally held in the hand. These include short or long lead leashes, tracking leashes, or retractable leashes, made of various materials (e.g., leather, Biothane, cotton, metal, plastic) and in various designs: 1. Leads are the classic dog leashes, usually one to three meters long, usually equipped with a wrist loop, and often with various options for shortening or lengthening. The dog walks directly beside the owner with little freedom of movement and can be relatively well controlled by the owner. Nevertheless, if the dog unexpectedly jerks the leash, there is a risk of losing the leash. While it is possible to wrap the wrist loop around the owner's wrist, this can be painful in the event of a strong jerk and is not a completely safe solution – a residual risk remains. 2. Tow lines are usually 5 to 20 meters long (or longer) to give the dog a greater reach. The risk of loss exists, as with the above-mentioned lead. However, because the dog is capable of triggering a very strong jerk with a lot of momentum due to the long leash, the risk is much higher. The exorbitantly violent jerk can hardly be contained by the owner, the leash consequently falls from the hand and the dog escapes. It would also be possible to wrap the wrist strap around the owner's wrist, but with a strong jerk this would be extremely painful and potentially harmful, not just for the wrist. The consequences could be strains, bruises, and fractures. In the worst case, this could even be fatal if the dog falls and hits the head on hard ground. 3. With commercially available retractable leashes (characterized by a spiral spring in a plastic handle housing that automatically winds and unwinds the strap or rope, which can be between three and ten meters long), the risk of loss is greatest. Firstly, the animal can generate a very strong jerk when running up, as with a retractable leash, and secondly, the handle of the retractable leash is difficult to hold and cannot be wrapped around the wrist. If the retractable leash falls from your hand, it crashes to the ground and is then noisily dragged behind you by the fleeing dog. In contrast to a dropped lead or retractable leash, catching the animal is considerably more complicated because the animal is continually driven forward by the noise of the dragging plastic housing and, in its panic, does not respond to calls.This is especially true if the animal is anxious, such as a rescue dog.

[0007] These leashes have one thing in common: if the hand strap or handle falls out of your hand, the animal can escape.

[0008] So-called shoulder leashes offer good protection against losing the dog and falling, but they don't provide sufficient freedom for species-appropriate exercise. This is especially true for dogs who, for various reasons, can never be released from their leash while walking (e.g., dogs with a strong hunting instinct).

[0009] Waist belts, which are specifically designed for joggers and cyclists to secure a dog to the owner's body during exercise, are not a safe alternative. While they prevent the leash from getting lost, experience has shown that, in the worst case scenario, even a dog weighing around 5 kg can generate such a strong jerk that the owner cannot balance from the center of his body, resulting in a fall.

[0010] The problem of inadequate animal security has been exacerbated for years by the increasing number of rescue dogs being adopted, especially from abroad. These animals are very often unsocialized, frightened, or traumatized, and frequently go missing due to the inexperience of their owners and inadequate security. But the invention also provides owners of dogs on leashes with a greater degree of security, especially on dangerous days such as New Year's Eve, when these dogs, frightened by firecrackers, are also increasingly lost. In 2023, 30,700 dogs were registered as lost with the TASSO Pet Central Register for the Federal Republic of Germany. The number of unreported cases is likely much higher, because many dogs are not registered with TASSO and are not reported if lost.

[0011] (Source: https: / / www.tasso.net / Service / Wissensportal / TASSO-Fakten / 2023-im-Ueberblick)

[0012] The invention is therefore based on the object of enabling a reliable tethering of an animal which, on the one hand, allows the animal a greater range for species-appropriate movement without having to accept its possible loss, and, on the other hand, protects the owner from damage to health and accidents.

[0013] This problem is solved according to the invention by a leash securing device that allows an existing external animal leash (lead, tow, or retractable leash) to be secured to the owner's body to prevent it from getting lost. At the same time, the securing device on the upper body allows the owner to balance even stronger forces. This prevents the external leash from falling out of the owner's hand, prevents the animal from getting lost, and protects the owner from painful and serious health damage.

[0014] The leash safety device for hanging around the neck is preferably made of webbing (textile or plastic) or leather strap in various colors. It has an ideal width of between two and four centimeters (depending on the animal's size) and a total length of approximately 2.4 meters. The total length is visually halved because the strap is doubled, giving it a perceived length of between 90 and 120 centimeters (depending on the setting). This, in turn, is divided into two sections by a plastic or metal strap slider, a larger and a smaller one (in the shape of a figure eight, roughly a ratio of one to five).

[0015] The upper, large section is designed to be attached diagonally over the owner's shoulder. The lower, smaller section accommodates the external leash. The strap slider serves as a divider between the two sections.

[0016] The strap slider between the two sections allows you to adjust the width of the leash attachment by moving it up or down. This allows you to adjust the width from holder to holder, and also to accommodate the wearer's thin summer clothing and thick winter clothing. Adjusting the upper section to ensure a perfect fit and as tight as possible prevents the leash attachment from being lost.

[0017] Both the upper and lower sections are opened and closed with a plastic or metal snap buckle. The design of the buckles, like the strap width, is adjusted to the dog's size. For very large dogs, a metal snap-ring closure is used instead of a snap buckle.

[0018] The lower opening accommodates the external leash on the leash holder for hanging around the neck, while the upper opening is positioned diagonally across the owner's shoulder. The external leash is thus attached to the owner's body, and its hand loop or handle is held by the owner when walking the animal.

[0019] While the snap buckle at the bottom (for the external leash) is firmly attached to the webbing on both sides, the snap buckle at the top (for the shoulder) offers the option of width adjustment. On the one hand, to adapt the width to the stature / figure of each owner, and on the other hand, to adapt it to the owner's thin summer clothing and thick winter clothing. This width adjustment is crucial for the safe use of the leash safety device. It must always be adjusted so that it corresponds exactly to the owner's arm length. The excess webbing, which is available for width adjustment, is attached to the strap using a strap slider. The end of the excess webbing is sewn over to protect it from passing through the strap slider and is heat-sealed to prevent it from fraying.

[0020] If the dog jerks on the external leash, the force is initially held by the handler's hand—as with all leashes—but then immediately transferred via the arm to the handler's shoulder. The wrist is immediately supported and relieved, preventing injury. The shoulder, in turn, ideally transmits the jerk to the handler's entire body for balancing, allowing it to be well balanced. This innovative approach prevents a fall—unlike an alternative securing system at the midsection.

[0021] According to the invention, one or more hook-and-loop fasteners, the same width as the belt and between 8 and 20 centimeters long, are sewn onto the upper and lower strap sections. These fasteners can accommodate practical accessories for dog owners, such as poop bag dispensers, cell phone pouches, food bags, and the like. Furthermore, one or more metal or plastic rings, the same width as the belt, are sewn onto the strap. These rings can be used to attach car keys, house keys, or other items to the leash using a carabiner. This makes carrying an additional bag for these items unnecessary when walking.

[0022] The advantage of the invention lies in the fact that the leash securing device for hanging around the neck is made of existing, commercially available materials and parts, which can be easily obtained, processed, and assembled by appropriate manufacturers. Due to its small size and low weight, the invention is also ideal for online sales.

[0023] An embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail with reference to a drawing. This drawing shows a highly schematic representation of a lanyard securing device according to the invention. The lanyard securing device 1 is available in a preferred width of 2 to 4 centimeters and a total strap length of 240 centimeters. The strap is doubled, visually halving the length. The strap slider 2 defines two areas in the shape of a figure eight: an upper area 3 (for the shoulder) and a lower area 4 (for the external lanyard).

[0024] The leash safety device for hanging over the neck 1 is preferably made of webbing (textile or plastic) or leather strap, as well as snap fasteners and strap sliders (plastic or metal), or metal snap-ring solutions. They are available in various colors.

[0025] Using the snap fastener 5 in the lower section 4, an existing external leash can be attached to the leash securing device and secured. The snap fastener 6 secures the upper section 3 of the leash securing device by hanging it diagonally across the owner's upper body.

[0026] The additional webbing reserve 7, which conveniently begins at the buckle 6 and is available for variable width and length adjustment, is secured to the belt with the belt slider 8. Ideally, the end of the additional webbing reserve is sealed and sewn around to prevent fraying and sliding through the belt slider 8.

[0027] Several advantageous Velcro surfaces 9 and 10, which allow the attachment of external pockets also provided with Velcro surfaces (e.g. for poop bags, mobile phone), are firmly connected to both the upper area 3 and the lower area 4.

[0028] In addition, ideally several useful rings 11 and 12 are permanently attached to the belt so that additional objects can be attached to the belt using external carabiners if necessary (e.g. keys). List of reference symbols: 1 leash safety device for hanging 2 belt shifters 3 upper area 4 lower area 5 Snap fastener or carabiner ring solution 6 Snap fastener or carabiner ring solution 7 Webbing reserve 8 belt shifters 9 Velcro area in the lower area 10 Velcro area in the upper area 11 rings 12 rings QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited non-patent literature

[0000] https: / / hundefreund.com / collections / joggingleine / products / hundefreundlaufleine-besonders-leichte-dehnbare-hundeleine-fur-mittlere-und-grosse-hunde

[0005] https: / / www.sporthund.de / niggeloh-umhaengeleine-grip-breit

[0005] https: / / kurgo.com.de / products / rsg-sport-ausrustungsgurtel

[0005] https: / / www.tasso.net / Service / Wissensportal / TASSO-Fakten / 2023-im-Ueberblick

[0011]

Claims

[1] Leash securing device (1) for reliably securing pet leashes on the owner’s body while ensuring maximum protection of his health, characterized by that a double belt strap is divided into an upper (3) and lower (4) area by a belt shifter (2). [2] Leash securing device for hanging around the neck (1) according to claim 1, which allows the reception and fixing of an external leash and the shoulder of the animal owner by means of two plug-in fasteners (5, 6) in the upper (3) and lower (4) areas. [3] Leash securing device for hanging around the neck (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein additional strap material (7), starting at the plug fastener (6) in the upper area (3), enables the width to be adjusted and is sealed and double-stitched at the end. [4] Leash securing device for hanging around the neck (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the additional belt material (7) is fixed to the upper region (3) with a belt slider (8). [5] Leash securing device for hanging around the neck (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein Velcro surfaces (9, 10) are attached in the upper (3) and lower (4) area, which can accommodate external accessories also provided with Velcro surfaces. [6] Leash securing device for hanging around the neck (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein rings (11, 12) are fixed to the upper region (3) which can receive external objects. [7] Leash securing device for hanging around the neck (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the belt sliders and plug fasteners are 2.5 to 5 centimeters wide and made of plastic or metal. [8] Leash securing device for hanging around the neck (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the strap is made of textiles, plastic or leather. [9] Lanyard (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8 with a total belt length of 2.40 meters and belt width of 2 to 4 centimeters.

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