Magnetic Leash-Harness Attachment for One-Handed Secure Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing leashes lack easy length adjustment and secure, one-handed attachment mechanisms, making them cumbersome for use and storage, and often require excessive effort to connect and detach.
Innovation Solution
A leash and harness attachment assembly with a self-guiding magnetic attachment mechanism and adjustable length, featuring pivotable hook members and magnets for easy alignment and attachment, allowing for one-handed operation and secure connection to a harness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a robust attachment mechanism is used to ensure safety, then the attachment strength is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates as it requires two hands and excessive effort to connect and detach
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical clip system with a magnetic attachment mechanism. Magnets embedded in the attachment device provide automatic attraction and secure holding without requiring mechanical clipping actions, thereby maintaining strong attachment while enabling one-handed operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The magnetic attachment mechanism utilizes magnetic attraction forces that automatically draw the leash attachment to the collar/harness attachment point. This self-aligning and self-attaching mechanism eliminates the need for manual alignment and clipping, allowing single-handed operation while maintaining secure connection.
2Ease of operation
If alignment mechanisms such as opposing magnets are used, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates as they lack lateral support and are difficult to align properly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a tab extension that protrudes laterally from the magnetic attachment mechanism. This tab provides lateral support and guidance in the horizontal dimension, working in conjunction with the vertical magnetic attraction to ensure reliable alignment and prevent misalignment during attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The tab acts as an intermediary element between the magnetic attachment mechanism and the collar/harness attachment point. It provides mechanical guidance and lateral support, ensuring that the magnetic components align properly before engagement, thereby improving both ease of operation and alignment reliability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a longer leash is used for rural settings, then the adaptability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates as it becomes cumbersome to store
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates an adjustable length mechanism that allows the leash to dynamically change its length. The leash can be extended to a longer length for rural settings and collapsed to a shorter length for urban environments or storage, providing adaptability while maintaining ease of handling and storage.
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 easy length adjustment and secure attachment of the leash to a harness using one hand, improving usability and storage convenience while ensuring animal safety.
Implementation Method 1
The attachment member's first portion also may include a first magnet attached adjacent the pivot point. The attachment member's second portion may include a ring with a central aperture, and a second magnet attached to a bottom portion of the ring adjacent the aperture.
Data Source
AI summary
An assembly providing a leash component, a harness component and an attachment mechanism adapted to attach the leash to the harness is provided. The leash includes two or more handles positioned along its length that may be connected together to effectively reduce the leash's length. The attachment mechanism includes guiding magnets that may facilitate the proper alignment and orientation of the mechanism during engagement between the leash and the harness. In this way, the attachment mechanism is configured to be activated using one hand.