Retractable Leash Harness with Integrated Spring Spool Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pet leashes are cumbersome when not in use, as they need to be carried separately and can become tangled or heavy when attached to a collar, causing discomfort and hindering pet movement, while retractable leashes built into collars are also heavy and inconvenient.
Innovation Solution
A harness with a retractable leash system mounted on the animal's back, featuring a coiled spring and spool mechanism enclosed in a housing, allowing the leash to be stored and extended as needed, with an adjustable and lockable feature for desired length, keeping the leash accessible and out of the way when not in use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the leash is kept attached to the collar at all times, then the leash is always accessible, but it becomes cumbersome and can get tangled around the animal causing injury
Solution Approach 1:
The leash transitions from a static attached state to a dynamic retractable state. The retractable mechanism allows the leash to automatically retract when not in use, eliminating tangling while maintaining accessibility. The leash can be quickly deployed when needed and automatically retracts afterward, providing dynamic adaptability between accessibility and safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The leash mechanism is extracted from the collar and integrated into the harness instead. This separation allows the leash to be stored within the harness structure rather than hanging from the collar, preventing tangling around the animal's neck while maintaining easy accessibility through the harness.
2Ease of operation
If retractable leashes are removably attached to the collar, then the animal can move freely, but the leash must be carried when removed from the animal
Solution Approach 1:
The leash and harness are merged into a single integrated system. The retractable leash mechanism is built into the harness structure, combining two separate items (leash and harness) into one unified device. This eliminates the need to carry the leash separately when not in use, as it remains attached to and integrated with the harness that stays on the animal.
Solution Approach 2:
The harness serves multiple functions: it acts as both the restraint device and the leash storage mechanism. The integrated retractable mechanism allows the same device to provide both harness functionality and leash functionality, eliminating the need for separate carrying of the leash.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the leash mechanism is located in the leash handle, then the retractable function is achieved, but the case becomes heavy and cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The leash mechanism is relocated from the handle (vertical dimension) to the harness body (horizontal/distributed dimension). By distributing the mechanism across the harness structure rather than concentrating it in the handle, the weight is distributed more effectively, reducing the perceived heaviness and improving ergonomics.
4Ease of operation
If collars with retractable leashes built therein are used, then the leash is always attached, but it causes discomfort and is difficult to access
Solution Approach 1:
The retractable leash mechanism is extracted from the collar and relocated to the harness. This relocation moves the mechanism away from the animal's neck area, eliminating discomfort caused by weighted collars while maintaining easy accessibility through the harness structure that sits on the animal's body.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanism is relocated from the vertical neck area to the horizontal body area. By moving the retractable mechanism from the collar (neck region) to the harness (body region), the design utilizes a different spatial dimension, improving both comfort and accessibility.
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 comfortable and safe pet restraint that remains accessible to the user while allowing the animal to move freely, eliminating the need to carry the leash and preventing tangling, ensuring the leash is always attached yet unobtrusive.
Implementation Method 1
holds a coiled spring with a leash surrounding a spool
Data Source
AI summary
A harness with a retractable leash secured on the harness so that it remains in a fixed location on an animal's back, making it comfortable for the animal, yet always accessible for a user. The animal can freely move about without being encumbered by the leash, and the leash remains easily accessible by the user on the animal's back, even when not in use. A locking feature will maintain the leash to a predetermined length when the leash is being used.