Interlinking Collar Assembly for Secure Adjustable Animal Restraint

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing collars are difficult to put on animals, can leave them unrestrained for extended periods, allow animals to slip out, and risk causing serious or permanent damage due to lack of force control.

Innovation Solution

Collar devices with interlinking components that include a hollow portion, securing portion, and flexible portion, allowing for adjustable fit and one-handed application, featuring a loop with a fastening element that prevents unintentional removal and distributes pressure to reduce harm.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the collar is made large enough to fit over the animal's head, then the collar can be easily applied, but the animal can slip out of the collar if the loop is not shortened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of applicationVSAvoidsecurity against slipping out

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The collar utilizes a dynamic resizing mechanism where the loop can be temporarily expanded to a larger size for easy application over the animal's head, then automatically shortened to a secure fitting size once applied. The collar transitions from a large application state to a small secure state through the shortening mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If the collar completely opens to fit over the animal's head, then the collar is easy to put on, but the animal is unrestrained for an extended period

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of applicationVSAvoidtime animal is unrestrained

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The collar is pre-configured with the loop and fastening element in place, allowing the collar to be quickly expanded and applied to the animal's head in a single motion. The preliminary arrangement of components enables rapid application without requiring the collar to remain completely open for an extended period.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If training collars include prongs that translate force into feedback, then training feedback is provided, but permanent and serious damage can be inflicted when misused

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetraining feedback capabilityVSAvoidrisk of injury

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The collar employs a resizing mechanism that changes the physical parameters of the collar structure. By dynamically adjusting the loop size and collar circumference, the system provides training feedback through controlled pressure while preventing excessive force transmission that could cause injury. The parameter change from expanded to contracted state controls the feedback intensity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS12478043B2Interlinking collar components and collar devices including the same

Publication Date: 2025.11.25 BENJAMIN NATHANAEL

AI summary

Collar devices including interlinking collar components that have a hollow portion and a securing portion connected by a flexible portion have increased strength and security. The number of collar components included in a collar device may be adjusted in order to properly fit a collar to a particular animal. Such collar devices generally include a plurality of interlinking collar components, as well as first and second loop attachment components, which couple to respective ends of interlinked collar components. A loop with a fastening element is then inserted into openings of the first and second loop attachment components.