Dog Coupler With Spring Tube For Directional Feedback
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dog leashes for multiple dogs lack a feedback mechanism, leading to entanglement, tripping, and excessive pulling, which complicates control and increases paw pad wear, especially when used with bicycles for exercise.
Innovation Solution
A dog coupler with a bendably flexible leash that connects two dogs' harnesses, providing a slack-free and movably linked system that allows each dog to detect changes in the other's direction, maintaining proximity and preventing entanglement while allowing for independent movement alongside a bicyclist.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a single leash is used for multiple dogs, then the likelihood of entanglement increases, but control and safety are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The coupler device segments the leash system into multiple independent attachment points (first attachment point and second attachment point) that can be independently connected to different dogs. This allows each dog to be tethered separately while maintaining overall system control, preventing entanglement between dogs while enabling efficient exercise of multiple animals simultaneously.
2Stability of the object's composition
If dogs are tethered together with a bundle coupling, then spacing is maintained, but the dogs' natural pulling tendency is exacerbated
Solution Approach 1:
The coupler employs a dynamic spring mechanism that can compress and extend based on the dogs' movements and pulling forces. The spring element absorbs the dogs' natural pulling tendency through elastic deformation, maintaining stable spacing between dogs while preventing excessive pulling forces from compromising the tethering system or causing harm to the dogs.
3Ease of operation
If a flexible strap is used to tether a dog to a bicycle, then the dog can move freely, but the dog cannot accurately detect the bicyclist's direction
Solution Approach 1:
The coupler transmits directional feedback from one dog to another through the spring mechanism and leash connection. When one dog changes direction or pulls, the spring compresses and transfers this mechanical signal to the other dog, providing real-time feedback about movement direction and maintaining coordination between dogs during exercise alongside the bicyclist.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables safe and efficient walking or running of multiple dogs alongside a bicyclist, reducing entanglement and paw pad wear, while encouraging proper spacing and companionship, allowing for longer and faster exercise sessions.
Implementation Method 1
a spring element that is compressible and extendable in response to forces applied thereto by the first and second dogs
Data Source
AI summary
On leash, dogs enjoy being tethered together, provided they can detect directional changes in their partner's movements. The dog coupler includes a semi-rigid hollow tube, each distal end of which is pressure fitted with a clip fastenable to a dog's collar or harness. Fabricated of resilient plastic tubing, about 18 inches long, the tube, when relaxed, forms a shallow arch. Arched more deeply by compression or, alternately, straightened out, the tube acts like a weak spring but exhibits substantially stronger spring tension when stretched. Because of the tube's three distinct spring constants, two dogs, individually tethered at the tube's distal ends, can communicate, via tube, their relative positions as they move toward or apart from each other. Working to prevent negative feedback, each dog is trained to space itself properly instead of bumping into or pulling away from its partner, thus enabling the two dogs to walk or run well tethered together.