Remote control release system for a dog leash
View Patent ↗A remote control release system for a dog leash having a leash coupler is provided. The system includes a dog leash release module having a housing, a leash coupling member, a pivoting arm member, an actuator device, an RF receiver, and a microprocessor. The microprocessor generates a control signal to induce the actuator device to move the pivoting arm member from a second operational position to a first operational position in response to an RF signal such that the pivoting arm member disengages from the leash coupling member and the leash coupling member decouples from the leash coupler in a slot in the housing.
1 . A remote control release system for a dog leash, comprising:
a dog leash having a leash coupler; and
a dog leash release module, the dog leash release module having a housing, a leash coupling member, a pivoting arm member, an actuator device, an RF receiver, and a microprocessor;
the housing having a slot extending therein for receiving the leash coupler therein;
the leash coupling member being rotatably coupled to the housing and having a first finger portion and a second finger portion defining a gap between the first finger portion and the second finger portion, the leash coupling member being biased in a first rotational direction by a spring;
the pivoting arm member being rotatably coupled to the housing, the pivoting arm member having a first operational position such the pivoting arm member does not engage the leash coupling member and the first finger portion does not extend across the slot of the housing such that the leash coupler is received in the gap between the first finger portion and the second finger portion, the pivoting arm member having a second operational position such that a first hook portion of the pivoting arm member contacts and holds a second hook portion of the first finger portion of the leash coupling member and the first finger portion extends across the slot to retain the leash coupler in the gap between the first finger portion and the second finger portion;
the actuator device being disposed in the housing and being operably coupled to the pivoting arm member;
the RF receiver being disposed in the housing and receiving an RF signal; and
the microprocessor of the dog leash release module being disposed in the housing and being operably coupled to the RF receiver, the microprocessor of the dog leash release module generating a control signal to induce the actuator device to move the pivoting arm member from the second operational position to the first operational position in response to the RF signal such that the pivoting arm member disengages from the leash coupling member and the leash coupling member decouples from the leash coupler.
2 . The remote control release system of claim 1 , wherein:
the housing holding the leash coupling member, the pivoting arm member, the actuator device, the RF receiver, and the microprocessor therein.
3 . The remote control release system of claim 1 , wherein:
the pivoting arm member having a finger member and a coupling rod; the coupling rod having first and second end portions, the first end portion being coupled to the finger member, the second end portion being coupled to the actuator device.
4 . The remote control release system of claim 3 , wherein:
the actuator device being a linear actuator having a shaft member, the shaft member having a ring-shaped tip portion, the second end portion of the coupling rod extending through the ring-shaped tip portion to couple the second end portion of the coupling rod to the shaft member of the linear actuator.
5 . The remote control release system of claim 3 , wherein:
the leash coupling member further having a central body portion, the central body portion being rotatably coupled to the housing, the first and second finger portions being coupled to and extending from the central body portion.
6 . The remote control release system of claim 5 , wherein:
a longitudinal length of the second finger portion is greater than a longitudinal length of the first finger portion.
7 . The remote control release system of claim 5 , wherein:
the finger member of the pivoting arm member having a first operational location where the finger member does not contact the second finger portion of the leash coupling member.
8 . The remote control release system of claim 7 , wherein:
the finger member of the pivoting arm member having a second operational location where the finger member contacts and holds the second finger portion of the leash coupling member when the leash coupling member is rotated in the second rotational direction by the leash coupler being pushed against the leash coupling member.
9 . The remote control release system of claim 8 , wherein:
the finger member of the pivoting arm member prevents the leash coupling member from rotating in the first rotational direction when the finger member of the pivoting arm member has the second operational location and contacts and holds the second finger portion; and
the first finger portion being disposed within the leash coupler in the slot.
10 . The remote control release system of claim 3 , wherein:
the actuator device being a rotary actuator having a shaft member, the shaft member having a ring-shaped tip portion, the second end portion of the coupling rod extending through the ring-shaped tip portion to couple the second end portion of the coupling rod to the shaft member of the rotary actuator.
11 . The remote control release system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a battery being electrically coupled to the RF receiver and the microprocessor.
12 . The remote control release system of claim 1 , wherein:
the housing having lower and upper housing portions being coupled together;
the lower housing portion having a body with first and second apertures extending therethrough that receive first and second bolts respectively therethrough;
the leash coupling member being rotatably coupled to the first bolt; and
the pivoting arm member being rotatably coupled to the second bolt.
13 . The remote control release system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a hand-held remote control module that transmits the RF signal.
14 . The remote control release system of claim 13 , wherein:
the hand-held remote control module includes an RF transmitter and a switch operably coupled to a microprocessor; the microprocessor of the hand-held remote control module inducing the RF transmitter to transmit the RF signal when the switch has a closed operational position.
15 . A dog harness assembly removably coupled to a dog leash, the dog leash having a leash coupler, comprising:
a dog harness;
a remote control release system being coupled to the dog harness, the remote control release system having a dog leash release module, the dog leash release module having a housing, a leash coupling member, a pivoting arm member, an actuator device, an RF receiver, and a microprocessor;
the housing having a slot extending therein for receiving the leash coupler therein;
the leash coupling member being rotatably coupled to the housing and having a first finger portion and a second finger portion defining a gap between the first finger portion and the second finger portion, the leash coupling member being biased in a first rotational direction by a spring;
the pivoting arm member being rotatably coupled to the housing, the pivoting arm member having a first operational position such the pivoting arm member does not engage the leash coupling member and the first finger portion does not extend across the slot of the housing such that the leash coupler is received in the gap between the first finger portion and the second finger portion, the pivoting arm member having a second operational position such that a first hook portion of the pivoting arm member contacts and holds a second hook portion of the first finger portion of the leash coupling member and the first finger portion extends across the slot to retain the leash coupler in the gap between the first finger portion and the second finger portion;
the actuator device being disposed in the housing and being operably coupled to the pivoting arm member;
the RF receiver being disposed in the housing and receiving an RF signal; and
the microprocessor being disposed in the housing and being operably coupled to the RF receiver, the microprocessor generating a control signal to induce the actuator device to move the pivoting arm member from the second operational position to the first operational position in response to the RF signal such that the pivoting arm member disengages from the leash coupling member and the leash coupling member decouples from the leash coupler.
16 . The dog harness assembly of claim 15 , wherein:
the remote control release system further includes a hand-held remote control module that transmits the RF signal.
17 . The dog harness assembly of claim 15 , wherein:
the actuator device being a linear actuator with a ring-shaped tip portion, the pivoting arm member having a coupling rod extending through the ring-shaped tip portion to couple the pivoting arm member to the shaft member of the linear actuator.
18 . The dog harness assembly of claim 15 , wherein:
the actuator device being a rotary actuator having a shaft member with a ring-shaped tip portion, the pivoting arm member having a coupling rod extending through the ring-shaped tip portion to couple the pivoting arm member to the rotary actuator.