Safety device for two animal leashes

Abstract

Securing device for two animal leashes (1) for reliably securing two pet leashes to the body of the owner while ensuring maximum protection of his health, characterized in that two double-layered straps (14 and 15) are firmly connected by a swivel (2) and define an upper area (3) and a lower area (4).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a safety device for two animal leashes.

[0002] Currently, there are no commercially available leash securing devices for two animals or other devices for securing two pet leashes to the owner's body 1 which prevent accidental escape of the animals and at the same time provide the owner with maximum health security.

[0003] The only way to attach a dog to the owner's body by hanging it around their neck is with a so-called shoulder leash. These are relatively short and are attached directly to the animal (collar or harness) with a carabiner at the end. Special waist belts are available for joggers and cyclists, allowing them to be carried hands-free during exercise. Some come with an integrated leash for attaching directly to the animal, or one or more external leashes can be attached. When using both shoulder leashes and waist belts, the two leashes tend to twist together when two leashes are used, which shortens the leashes and makes it difficult or even impossible for the owner to have direct contact with either dog.

[0004] There are so-called coupling leashes specifically for leading two animals at the same time. These leashes are available as connectors for attaching to an existing leash, or as a single unit. They are generally relatively short and allow the animals little freedom of movement. Furthermore, they have a negative impact on the individual dog, as not only the owner 1 For better readability, this document avoids the use of gender-specific language. For the sake of equal treatment, male pronouns apply to all genders. They are not only the first person to pull on him, but also the second dog. They are therefore not suitable for permanent / regular use. Locations

[0005] Dog friend running leash - Extra light stretchy dog ​​leash for medium and large dogs https: / / hundefreund.com / collections / ioggingleine / products / hundefreundlaufleine-besonders-leichte-dehnbare-hundeleine-fur-mittele-und-grosse-hunde

[0006] Niggeloh GRIP wide leash https: / / www.sporthund.de / niggeloh-umhaengeleine-grip-breit

[0007] RSG Sports / Equipment Belt https: / / kurgo.com.de / products / rsg-sport-ausrustungsgurtel

[0008] Coupling / connecting leash for 2 dogs (short) https: / / pawsome-shop.at / products / verbindungsteil-aus-leder-fur-2-hunde-an-einer-leine

[0009] Coupling / connecting leash for 2 dogs (long) https: / / www.moxonundco.de / Koppel.html

[0010] Pet owners, especially dog ​​owners, lead their animals on various leashes—when transporting them to another location or for walks. The leashes are mostly 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 hand loop and often with various options for shortening or lengthening. The dog walks directly next to the owner with little freedom of movement and can be relatively well controlled by the owner. Nevertheless, if the dog unexpectedly jerks on the leash, there is a risk of losing the leash from the owner's hand. While it is possible to wrap the hand loop around the owner's wrist, this can be painful if the jerk is strong and is not a completely safe solution - a residual risk remains. If you are walking two dogs, you either have both leashes in one hand - which regularly leads to them becoming tangled (due to the different movements of the two dogs) - or one leash in each hand, leaving no hands free for anything else. There is no provision for securing the leash to the owner's body. 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. Since the dog is capable of generating a very strong jerk with a lot of momentum due to the long leash, the risk of loss is much higher. The exorbitantly violent jerk can hardly be contained by the owner, the leash 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 only to the wrist but also to the shoulder. The consequences could be strains, bruises, and fractures. In the worst case, a fall with the head hitting hard ground could even be fatal. If you are walking two dogs, this risk increases accordingly.In addition, these leashes also become tangled as the two dogs run back and forth. Furthermore, it requires the owner's utmost concentration to avoid stepping on one of the two leashes dragging along the ground. This makes a relaxed walk virtually impossible. There is no provision for securing the leash to the owner's body. 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 dragged noisily 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 when it comes to a nervous animal, such as a rescue dog. Walking two dogs on retractable leashes further increases the risk of loss. Furthermore, you are forced to carry a retractable leash in each hand, as it's almost impossible to do it one-handed—leaving your other hand unavailable for other activities. There's no provision for securing the dog to the owner's body.

[0011] To secure the dog to the owner's body, there are so-called shoulder leashes. These offer good protection against losing the dog, but because they are too short, they do not allow the dog sufficient freedom for species-appropriate exercise. This is particularly true for dogs that, for various reasons, can never be released from the leash when walking (e.g., dogs with a strong hunting instinct). The problem of leash twists is particularly unpleasant in this case because the leashes are relatively short and thus become even shorter. This makes it difficult or even impossible for the owner to directly influence either of the dogs. A relaxed walk is not possible for either the owner or the dogs.

[0012] Belly belts, which are specially designed for joggers and cyclists to secure a dog to the owner's body during exercise, are also not a safe alternative for walking dogs. While this prevents the leash from getting lost, experience has shown that in an unfortunate case, even a dog weighing around 5 kg can generate such a great jerk that the owner cannot balance from the middle of the body and subsequently falls. With two dogs, this danger is exponentially increased. The risk of the owner falling in a crisis situation is greatest here. Here, too, the leash becomes tangled, making it difficult or even impossible for the owner to directly influence one of the two dogs.

[0013] 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 are frequently lost due to the inexperience of their owners and the current, inadequate security measures. The invention particularly benefits these dogs. 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, too, are increasingly lost due to fireworks. In 2023, 30,700 dogs were registered as lost with the TASSO Central Pet Register for the Federal Republic of Germany. The number of unreported cases is likely much higher, as many dogs are not registered with TASSO and are not reported if lost.

[0014] (Source: https: / / www.tasso.net / Service / Wissensportal / TASSO-Fakten / 2023-im-Ueberblick)

[0015] The invention is therefore based on the objective of enabling a reliable connection between two animals, which, on the one hand, allows the animals a greater range for species-appropriate exercise without having to accept the risk of their loss, and, on the other hand, protects the owner from health damage and prevents accidents. Furthermore, the goal is to enable both humans and animals to enjoy the exercise as much as possible.

[0016] These objects are achieved according to the invention by a securing device for two animal leashes that can be slung over the neck. It allows existing external animal leashes (leads, tow lines or retractable leashes) to be secured to the owner's body to protect them from loss. At the same time, the positioning on the upper body enables the owner to balance even greater forces. This prevents the external leashes from falling out of the hand, the animals do not get lost and the owner is protected from painful and potentially serious health damage. The invention was designed in particular for the use of retractable leashes, which, despite the risks involved, are very popular with dog owners because they allow dogs a great deal of freedom of movement without the owner having to worry about leashes dragging on the ground while walking.

[0017] The safety device for two pet leashes is preferably made of webbing (fabric, plastic, or leather) in various colors. It has an ideal width of between two and four centimeters (depending on the pet size) and a total length of approximately 2.4 meters. The total length is visually halved because the strap is doubled in each case.

[0018] It is a safety device that is divided into three sections: an upper section and a lower section (in a 5:1 ratio), with a fixed connector between them - visually shaped like a figure eight. The upper, large section is designed to be attached diagonally across the owner's upper body, over the shoulder. The lower, small section is ideally used to hold the external lines. The swivel in between firmly connects the two sections and, according to the invention, prevents the lines from becoming tangled and allows them to be easily corrected. The external lines are thus attached to the owner's body, and their wrist straps or handles can be held by the owner in the hand or worn hanging down at the side. This means that the owner always has one or both hands free for other tasks, without compromising safety.

[0019] Advantageously, both the upper and lower sections can be opened and closed using a plastic or metal snap-on buckle. The design of the snap-on buckles, like the width of the strap, is adapted to the dog's size and strength.

[0020] The invention offers the option of width adjustment on both snap buckles. The upper section allows the width to be adjusted to suit the stature / figure of each owner, and the other to suit the owner's thin summer clothing and thick winter clothing. This width adjustment is crucial for the safe use of the safety device for two animal leashes, as it must always be adjusted so that it corresponds exactly to the owner's arm length. The width of the snap buckle in the lower section is adjusted to suit the external leashes to be attached. The excess webbing in both sections is ideally fixed to the strap of the respective section using a strap slider. The end of the excess webbing is protected from passing through the strap slider by sewing it over and, if necessary, heat-sealed (e.g. with plastic straps) to prevent it from fraying.

[0021] The advantages of this invention lie in the fact that the dog's jerk is initially held by the owner's hand—as with all leashes—but then immediately transmitted via the strap to the owner's upper body. The wrist and shoulder joints are immediately supported and relieved, preventing injury. The upper body, in turn, ideally transmits the jerk to the owner's entire body for balancing and can be well balanced. This prevents a fall.

[0022] Ideally, 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 part of the strap to accommodate other practical accessories for dog owners. These include poop bag dispensers, cell phone pouches, food bags, and the like. Additionally, one or more metal or plastic rings, the same width as the belt, are sewn onto the strap for attaching car or house keys or other items to the strap with a carabiner. This conveniently eliminates the need to carry an additional bag to store these items while walking.

[0023] The advantage of the invention lies in the fact that it consists of existing, commercially available materials and parts, which can be easily sourced, assembled, and processed by appropriate manufacturers. Its small size and low weight also make it ideal for online sales.

[0024] An embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail with reference to a drawing. This drawing shows a highly schematic representation of a securing device according to the invention for two animal leashes. The securing device for two animal leashes 1 is available in a preferred width of 2 to 4 centimeters and a total strap length of approximately 240 centimeters. The swivel 2 defines two areas in the shape of a figure eight: an upper area 3 (for diagonally securing the upper body) and a lower area 4 (for securing the external leashes).

[0025] The securing device for two pet leashes (1) consists preferably of textile, plastic, or leather webbing (14 and 15), as well as plastic or metal snap fasteners (5 and 8), and plastic or metal strap sliders (7 and 10). They are available in various colors.

[0026] Using the snap fastener 5 in the lower section 4, the two existing external leashes can be attached and secured to the two-leash attachment point. The additional webbing reserve 6, conveniently located at the snap fastener 5 and available for width adjustment, is secured to the strap 15 in the lower section using the strap slider 7.

[0027] The buckle 8 secures the upper section 3 diagonally across the shoulders to the wearer's upper body. The additional strap reserve 9, which conveniently begins at the buckle 8 and is available for variable width adjustment, is secured to the strap 14 of the upper section 3 using the strap slider 10.

[0028] Several advantageous Velcro surfaces 11 and 12, which allow the attachment of external pockets also provided with Velcro surfaces, are firmly attached to the strap 14 of the upper section 3.

[0029] In addition, a useful ring 13 is ideally firmly attached to the strap 14 of the upper area 3 in order to be able to attach additional objects if necessary. List of reference symbols: 1 safety device for two animal leashes 2 vertebrae 3 upper area 4 lower area 5 snap fastener 6 webbing reserve 7 belt shifters 8 snap fastener 9 Webbing reserve 10 belt shifters 11 Velcro surface 12 Velcro surface 13 rings 14 webbing 15 webbing 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 / ioggingleine / products / hundefreundlaufleine-besonders-leichte-dehnbare-hundeleine-fur-mittele-und-grosse-hunde

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

[0006] https: / / kurgo.com.de / products / rsg-sport-ausrustungsgurtel

[0007] https: / / pawsome-shop.at / products / verbindungsteil-aus-leder-fur-2-hunde-an-einer-leine

[0008] https: / / www.moxonundco.de / Koppel.html

[0009] https: / / www.tasso.net / Service / Wissensportal / TASSO-Fakten / 2023-im-Ueberblick

[0014]

Claims

[1] Safety device for two pet leashes (1) for reliably securing two pet leashes to the owner's body while ensuring maximum protection of his health, characterized by that two double straps (14 and 15) are firmly connected by a swivel (2) and define an upper area (3) and a lower area (4). [2] Securing device for two animal leashes for hanging around the neck (1) according to claim 1, which allows the reception and fixing of two external leashes as well as the upper body of the animal owner by means of two plug-in fasteners (5 and 8) in the upper area (3) and lower area (4). [3] Securing device for two animal leashes for hanging around the neck (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein additional strap material (6 and 9), starting at the snap fasteners (5 and 8) and double-stitched at the end, enables the widths to be adjusted. [4] Securing device for two animal leashes for hanging around the neck (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the additional belt material (6 and 9) is fixed to the belt (14 and 15) of the two areas (3 and 4) by means of belt sliders (7 and 10). [5] Securing device for two animal leashes for hanging around the neck (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein Velcro surfaces (11 and 12) are attached to the belt (14) of the upper region (3). [6] Securing device for two animal leashes for hanging around the neck (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a ring (13) is fixed to the strap (14) of the upper region (3). [7] Securing device for two animal leashes for hanging around the neck (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the belt sliders (7 and 10) and snap fasteners (5 and 8) are 2.5 to 5 centimeters wide and made of plastic or metal. [8] Securing device for two animal leashes for hanging around the neck (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the straps (14 and 15) are made of textiles, plastic or leather. [9] Securing device for two animal leashes for hanging around the neck (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8 with a total belt length of approximately 2.40 meters and a belt width of 2 to 4 centimeters.

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