Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a novel dog leash that is easy to untangle from the dog’s legs. More particularly, the invention relates to a leash that is capable of untangling itself simply, while maintaining control of the dog. The leash is further capable of shortening quickly to half its length, for added restraint of the dog in close quarters.

Background of the Invention

In the world of dog accessories, there are many different leashes. Unfortunately, the current approaches to leash management are designed to control multiple dogs at one time, or are complicated and expensive spring-loaded reels. There is no lightweight and simple solution for a single animal.

An example of a multiple-dog leash system can be seen in U.S. Patent Application No.US5852988A, fded on July 19, 1995 by Panje L. Gish, which "provides a user the ability to conveniently secure and walk two or more dogs from a single handle member." While this may be effective when you have more than one dog, only 14.76% of people in the USA own more than one dog (2022 Spirit Dog Ownership Statistics USA).

Another example, which is typical of the spring-loaded reel approach, can be seen in U.S. Patent Application No. US9999202B2, filed on July 11, 2017 by Nite Glow Industries, "an omnidirectionally reflective pet leash housed within a retractable housing device." Consumer advocates and dog trainers have long warned about the dangers inherent in this design (3/5/2009 Consumer Reports "Retractable Leashes Pose Problems For People And Their Pets") The thin cord used by these devices could snap if a strong, good-sized dog takes off at full speed. Some devices can extend up to 26 feet, allowing a dog to run into the middle of the street, or make uninvited contact with other dogs or people. Trying to untangle such a leash has resulted in bums and cuts. Worst of all, the design trains dogs to pull harder on the leash, because they leam that pulling extends the lead.

It is much easier to control and protect a dog at the end of a six-foot standard flat leash. However, it has its downsides as well. The leash can tangle in the dog's legs, requiring the owner to lift the animal's (often muddy) legs to free it. Worse, the leash is often right in the path when the dog relieves itself.

Therefore, a need exists for a novel dog leash that retains the protections of a standard six-foot flat leash, but is easier to manage, and is more sanitary.

It is an objective of the present invention to provide a dog leash that allows a user to maintain control of a dog within a short distance from the user. It is a further objective to provide a leash that is not easily entangled with the legs of pedestrians or other dogs. It is a still further objective, to provide a means for untangling the leash from the legs of the dog should he become tangled in the leash. It is yet a further objective to provide a leash that is easily attached to and detached from a dog collar. Finally, it is an objective of the present invention to provide a leash that can be quickly shortened to provide closer control.

While some of the objectives of the present invention are disclosed in the prior art, none of the inventions found include all the requirements identified. Summary of the Invention

The present invention addresses all of the deficiencies of prior dog leash inventions and satisfies all of the objectives described above.

1) An easy-to-untangle dog leash can be fabricated from the following components. An eyebolt snap is provided. The eyebolt snap has a clasp portion located at a first end, and a loop portion located at a second end. The clasp portion has an openable ring adapted to be removably attached to a dog collar. The loop portion has an orifice of a first predetermined size.

A strap is provided. The strap has a first end and a second end. The first end is attached to a first stopping device and the second end is attached to a second stopping device. The first and second stopping devices are larger than the first predetermined size and unable to pass through the orifice.

When the clasp portion is attached to a dog collar of a dog and a user grasps either of the first or second stopping devices, the strap will slide through the loop portion until a nongrasped stopping device bears against the loop portion. The dog may now be securely walked and controlled. Should the strap become tangled in legs of the dog, the user need only grasp the non-grasped stopping device and the strap will slide through the orifice until the previously grasped stopping device comes to bear against the loop portion. This will untangle the strap from the legs of the dog and restore control of the dog to the user.

2) In a variant of the invention, the clasp portion of the eyebolt snap is rotatably mounted to the loop portion. 3) In another variant, the clasp portion of the eyebolt snap further includes a spring- activated closure mechanism to secure the eyebolt snap to the dog collar.

4) In still another variant, the strap further includes at least one loop handle. The at least one loop handle is located adjacent at least one of the first and second ends of the strap.

5) In a yet another variant, at least one of the first and second stopping devices further includes a holding aid. The holding aid has a passageway through which the strap can pass, and an anchor. The anchor is attached to either of the first and second ends of the strap. The anchor prevents removal of the holding aid from the strap and the holding aid prevents the strap from passing entirely through the orifice.

6) In a final variant, each of the first and second stopping devices further includes first and second holding aids. Grasping the first and second holding aids of the first and second stopping devices will shorten the easy-to-untangle dog leash to half of an original length, for increased control of said dog.

Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is a side elevational view the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrating the eyebolt snap, strap, first and second handles and first and second stopping devices;

Figure 2 is a close-up perspective view of the second end of strap of the Figure 1 embodiment illustrating attachment of the eyebolt snap to a dog collar, the interaction between the second stopping device and the loop portion of the eyebolt snap and the connection of the second end of the strap and the anchor; Figure 3 a close-up perspective view of the second end of strap of the Figure 1 embodiment illustrating the strap, one of the loop handles, the second stopping device and the anchor;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the Figure 1 embodiment illustrating the strap in a doubled up shortened mode.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

1) As illustrated in Figures 1-4, an easy-to-untangle dog leash 10 can be fabricated from the following components. An eyebolt snap 14 is provided. The eyebolt snap 14 has a clasp portion 18 located at a first end 22, and a loop portion 26 located at a second end 30. The clasp portion 18 has an openable ring 34 adapted to be removably attached to a dog collar 38. The loop portion 26 has an orifice 42 of a first predetermined size 46.

A strap 50 is provided. The strap 50 has a first end 54 and a second end 58. The first end 54 is attached to a first stopping device 62 and the second end 58 is attached to a second stopping device 66. The first 62 and second 66 stopping devices are larger than the first predetermined size 46 and unable to pass through the orifice 42.

When the clasp portion 18 is attached to a dog collar 38 of a dog (not shown) and a user (not shown) grasps either of the first 62 or second 66 stopping devices, the strap 50 will slide through the loop portion 26 until a non-grasped stopping device 78 bears against the loop portion 26. The dog may now be securely walked and controlled. Should the strap 50 become tangled in legs (not shown) of the dog, the user need only grasp the non-grasped stopping device 78 and the strap 50 will slide through the orifice 42 until the previously grasped stopping device 86 comes to bear against the loop portion 26. This will untangle the strap 50 from the legs of the dog and restore control of the dog 70 to the user 74.

2) In a variant of the invention, as illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 4, the clasp portion 18 of the eyebolt snap 14 is rotatably mounted to the loop portion 26.

3) In another variant, the clasp portion 18 of the eyebolt snap 14 further includes a spring-activated closure mechanism 90 to secure the eyebolt snap 14 to the dog collar 38.

4) In still another variant, as illustrated in Figures 1, 3 and 4, the strap 50 further includes at least one loop handle 94. The at least one loop handle 94 is located adjacent at least one of the first 54 and second 58 ends of the strap 50.

5) In a yet another variant, as illustrated in Figure 2, at least one of the first 54 and second 58 stopping devices further includes a holding aid 98 . The holding aid 98 has a passageway 102 through which the strap 50 can pass, and an anchor 106. The anchor 106 is attached to either of the first 54 and second 58 ends of the strap 50. The anchor 106 prevents removal of the holding aid 98 from the strap 50 and the holding aid 106 prevents the strap 50 from passing entirely through the orifice 42.

6) In a final variant, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 4, each of the first 54 and second 58 stopping devices further includes first 110 and second 114 holding aids. Grasping the first 110 and second 114 holding aids of the first 54 and second 58 stopping devices will shorten the easy-to-untangle dog leash 10 to half of an original length 118, for increased control of said dog.