Emergency leash

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional self-retracting leashes for pets are often bulky, heavy, and prone to breaking, making them unsuitable for miniature pets and requiring improvements in design for a lighter, more robust, and user-friendly mechanism that can be easily latched and unlatched for extension or storage.

Innovation Solution

A leash system featuring a lightweight, compact design with a leash container housing and a rotatable spool mechanism that allows the leash to be manually dispensed and retracted, including a latch system for preventing unwanted extension and a connector assembly for secure attachment to collars or harnesses, with optional features like glow-in-the-dark tags and GPS devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a spring-driven self-winding leash recoiling system is used, then the leash can be automatically retracted, but the leash container housing becomes large and heavy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic retractionVSAvoidleash container housing weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the spring mechanism from the leash container housing, extracting the heavy component that caused the housing to be large and heavy. The manual retraction system replaces the automatic spring-driven system, eliminating the need for a large housing to accommodate the spring mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the complex spring-driven mechanical retraction system with a simpler manual retraction system. The user manually winds the leash onto the spool, eliminating the need for heavy springs and complex automatic retraction mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If a spring-driven self-winding leash recoiling system is used, then the leash can be automatically retracted, but the system becomes prone to breaking

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic retractionVSAvoidsystem durability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the spring mechanism that was identified as the first part to break in conventional systems. By eliminating the spring and its associated complex mechanical components, the system becomes more reliable and less prone to breaking.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the operational parameters from automatic spring-driven retraction to manual user-controlled retraction. This fundamental change in how the system operates eliminates the wear and tear on spring components, significantly improving reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If a conventional self-retracting leash design is used, then the leash can be automatically retracted, but the design becomes complex and difficult to manufacture

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic retractionVSAvoidmanufacturing simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the complex automatic spring-driven mechanical system with a simple manual retraction system. The basic components (spool, leash, housing) are much simpler to manufacture without the need for precision spring mechanisms, brakes, and guide rings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent simplifies the design by dividing the system into basic functional segments: a spool for winding the leash, a housing to contain the spool, and a simple latch mechanism. This segmentation eliminates the need for complex integrated spring-driven mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Weight of stationary object

If the leash is kept in a retracted configuration to prevent unwanted extension, then the leash is compact and easy to carry, but the user cannot quickly extend it when needed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompact sizeVSAvoidquick extension

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent positions the thumb wheel and latch mechanism for immediate user action. The latch is spring-loaded to automatically engage when the leash is retracted, but can be quickly released by the user. The thumb wheel is positioned for easy manual rotation to rapidly wind or unwind the leash as needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a dynamic system where the latch can quickly transition between locked and unlocked states. The spring-loaded latch automatically locks when the leash is retracted for compact carrying, but can be rapidly unlocked and relocked during use, providing both compactness and quick responsiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS9844208B2Emergency leash

Publication Date: 2017.12.19 HARRIS II JOHN ROBERT

AI summary

A leash includes a container housing to be carried on a collar, chain, harness or other similar restraint, readily available for use. An outer end of a leash strap can be pulled by a user to dispense the leash strap for use, and the leash can be retracted and rewound in the container housing. The leash can be latched in a retracted configuration to prevent unwanted extension of the leash, and can be unlatched by a user for extension or storage of the leash in the retracted configuration. In one form the leash includes a thumb wheel that can be turned by a user on an inner rotatable spool in an unlatched position, and rotation of the thumb wheel is prevented in a latched position.