Retractable Leash and Collar Assembly with Nested Pouch
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dog leash and collar assemblies are cumbersome and inconvenient, lacking a user-friendly and efficient design.
Innovation Solution
A retractable leash and collar assembly featuring a hub with a coiled spring and leash line, a snap buckle system, and a hollow pouch to enclose the handle, allowing for easy extension and retraction of the leash while keeping it securely contained.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the leash is contained within the collar housing, then the leash is protected and organized, but the handle cannot be fully retracted into the collar
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested structure where the hollow pouch is placed inside the collar housing, creating a nested containment system. The handle retracts into the pouch, which itself is contained within the larger housing, allowing progressive nesting of components to maximize space utilization and enable full handle retraction while maintaining leash containment.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the leash is extended from the collar, then the dog can move freely, but the leash may become tangled or damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic retraction mechanism with a spring-loaded spool that automatically winds the leash back into the housing when not in use. This dynamic system transitions the leash between extended and retracted states, providing protection during retraction while maintaining extendability during use, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and reliability.
3Ease of operation
If the handle remains outside the housing, then it is easily accessible, but the overall assembly becomes cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the containment structure into multiple functional zones: the main housing, the inner hollow pouch, and the retractable mechanism. This segmentation allows the handle to be accessible during operation while enabling complete retraction into the nested pouch-housing structure, reducing overall complexity when not in use.
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
The solution provides a safe, aesthetically pleasing, and user-friendly dog leash and collar assembly that enhances safety and usability by maintaining the leash within the collar when not in use, while allowing easy access and reducing wear and tear.
Implementation Method 1
A coiled spring is enclosed within the hollow interior of the hub and the coiled spring has a first end secured to the hub and a second end secured to a first, inner end of the coiled leash line
Data Source
AI summary
A retractable leash and collar/harness assembly. The assembly includes a hub that contains a spring member and leash line coiled and enclosed within the hub. The spring member and leash line remain in constant communication with each other. The hub contains an aperture through which the leash line can flow. Extending outwardly from the hub are snap buckles, one of which is structured to have a channel formed therein. The leash line can flow through the channel to a handle, which is contained within a pouch formed on the attached collar. When the leash is pulled, the handle separates from the pouch, followed by the leash line. Thus, when in use, the leash line follows a path of travel from the hub, through the snap buckle, through the pouch and into the external environment. In an alternative embodiment, the current invention may be a leash and harness assembly.