Retractable leash
View Patent ↗A two or more subject retractable leash, and methods of use thereof, is disclosed, which includes a roll-back feature on each retractable leash. The leashes may be locked in place by engaging a single lever. The leashes retract regardless of whether the spools are locked or unlocked. Each leash retracts independently of the other leashes, such that a dual leash may be used to walk one subject. In some embodiments, a single subject retractable leash includes a roll-back feature that provides and allows for leash retraction, whether or not a brake associated with a spool thereof is engaged.
1. A retractable leash comprising:
a housing;
a handle associated with said housing;
a leash;
a spool operable to engage said leash, said spool rotationally biased to urge said leash into a spooled configuration; and
a brake, said brake configured to engage with said spool by operation of a pawl associated with a compression spring, such that said spool is prevented from rotating in an unspooling direction when said brake is engaged, but wherein said spool is enabled to rotate in a spooling direction when said brake is engaged.
2. The retractable leash of claim 1 , wherein spinning in said unspooling direction of said spool is enabled when said brake is not engaged with said spool.
3. The retractable leash of claim 1 , wherein said spool further comprises a braking notch and a pawl clearance area.
4. The retractable leash of claim 1 , wherein said brake further comprises two pawls biased to engage said spool.
5. The retractable leash of claim 4 , wherein said pawls are biased to engage said spool by common cooperation with said compression spring.
6. The retractable leash of claim 1 , wherein said spool further comprises a braking notch and a pawl clearance area, and wherein said brake further comprises a pawl biased to engage said spool by abutting said braking notch when said brake is engaged.
7. The retractable leash of claim 6 , wherein said spool further comprises a cam surface, and wherein said pawl is configured to travel along said cam surface when said brake is engaged and said spool is enabled to rotate in a spooling direction.
8. A retractable leash comprising:
a housing, said housing comprising a handle;
a leash operably affixed to a spool within said housing; said spool rotationally biased within said housing to wind said leash upon said spool; said spool further comprising a braking notch, a pawl clearance area, and a cam surface; and
a brake activated by an operating button associated with said housing, said brake comprising, at a distal end of said operating button, a pawl, said pawl being operationally biased toward said spool by operation of a compression spring;
said brake, when activated, urging said pawl into said pawl clearance area, said pawl configured to engage said braking notch when said spool is rotated in an unwinding direction, and to engage said cam surface when said spool is rotated in a winding direction.
9. The retractable leash of claim 8 further comprising a locking button.
10. The retractable leash of claim 9 , wherein said locking button further comprises an abutment surface and an extension, said extension operably associated with a portion of said housing.
11. The retractable leash of claim 10 , wherein said operably associated portion of said housing further comprises a wall cam surface.
12. The retractable leash of claim 11 , wherein said operating button further comprises a bearing surface.
13. The retractable leash of claim 12 , wherein said abutment surface is engaged with said bearing surface when said extension engages said wall cam surface.
14. The retractable leash of claim 13 , wherein when said abutment surface and said bearing surface are engaged, said operating button is established in a brake-engaged, locked configuration.
15. The retractable leash of claim 8 further comprising a locking button interoperable with said operating button to lock said operating button in a brake engaging position.
16. A retractable leash comprising:
a housing, said housing comprising a handle;
a leash operably affixed to a spool within said housing; said spool rotationally biased within said housing to wind said leash upon said spool; said spool further comprising in association with each side of said spool a plurality of braking notches, a plurality of pawl clearance areas, and a plurality of cam surfaces; and
a brake activated by an operating button associated with said housing, said brake comprising, at a distal end of said operating button, a plurality of pawls, said pawls being operationally biased toward said spool by operation of a compression spring;
said brake, when activated, urging said each of said pawls into said pawl clearance areas on a respective side of said spool, said pawls each configured to engage a said braking notch on a respective side of said spool when said spool is rotated in an unwinding direction, and to engage a said cam surface on a respective side of said spool when said spool is rotated in a winding direction; and
a locking button carrying a portion configured to engage with a portion of said operating button, and thereby to lock said brake when so engaged.
17. The retractable leash of claim 16 , wherein said locking button further comprises an abutment surface and an extension, said extension operably associated with a portion of said housing; and wherein said operably associated portion of said housing further comprises a wall cam surface.
18. The retractable leash of claim 17 , wherein said operating button further comprises a bearing surface.
19. The retractable leash of claim 18 , wherein said abutment surface is engaged with said bearing surface when said extension engages said wall cam surface.
20. The retractable leash of claim 19 , wherein when said abutment surface and said bearing surface are engaged, said operating button is established in a brake-engaged, locked configuration.