Rotating Retractable Pet Leash Housing Reduces Tether Drag
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional retractable pet leashes that are carried by the pet often cause drag and increased tension due to the fixed orientation of the tether relative to the pet's collar, leading to discomfort for both the pet and the user.
Innovation Solution
A retractable pet leash design featuring a retractor assembly that is secured to the pet's collar, allowing the housing to rotate and featuring a spool with a spring mechanism to wind and unwind the tether, reducing drag and tension by adjusting the tether's angle and length dynamically.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the retractor assembly is secured in a fixed orientation to the pet collar, then the attachment is simple and stable, but the tether causes drag and increased tension on both the pet and user
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by enabling the retractor assembly housing to rotate relative to the fastener attached to the pet collar. This rotation capability allows the tether to dynamically adjust its angle and position, reducing drag and tension during pet movement while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
2Ease of operation
If the tether extends from the retractor at fixed angles, then the retractor assembly structure is simple, but the tether causes drag and binding
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is designed to rotate with respect to the fastener, transforming the fixed-angle tether extension into a dynamic system. This allows the tether to move freely and adjust to the pet's movement without binding, while the rotational mechanism remains integrated into the existing retractor structure.
3Ease of operation
If the housing rotates with respect to the fastener, then the tether angle adjusts dynamically reducing drag and tension, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a rotational joint between the housing and fastener that allows dynamic angle adjustment. This single rotational degree of freedom provides sufficient flexibility to reduce drag and tension without requiring complex multi-axis mechanisms or additional active components.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotational capability is integrated into the existing retractor assembly structure, merging the rotation function with the housing and fastener components rather than adding separate complex mechanisms. This combines multiple functions into unified components.
4Ease of operation
If the tether is carried by the pet rather than the user, then the user has hands-free operation, but the fixed orientation causes increased tension on the pet
Solution Approach 1:
By enabling the housing to rotate relative to the collar, the system dynamically adjusts the tether angle to follow the pet's movement, reducing binding and tension. This maintains the hands-free benefit while mitigating the harmful tension effects through passive rotational adjustment.
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 reduces drag and tension on both the pet and the user, providing a more comfortable and efficient walking experience by allowing the tether to retract and extend without binding, thus improving usability and pet handling.
Implementation Method 1
a spring mechanism to wind and unwind the tether
Data Source
AI summary
A retractable pet leash. The leash includes a grip configured for releasably attaching to a user and a flexible tether connected to the grip. The leash also has a retractor assembly including a housing having an internal chamber sized and shaped for receiving a spool for receiving the tether when retracted into the housing and a fastener rotatably attached to the housing. The fastener is adapted to attach the housing to a pet garment so the housing rotates with respect to the fastener.