Breakaway devices for pet collars and other devices
View Patent ↗A breakaway device includes a first strap portion, a second strap portion, and a breakaway coupling. The breakaway coupling includes first and second breakaway coupling portions. The first breakaway coupling portion is coupled to the first strap portion and includes a ramped recess. The second breakaway coupling portion is coupled to the second strap portion and is magnetically coupled to the first breakaway coupling portion. The second breakaway coupling portion includes a ramped protrusion received in the ramped recess. The breakaway device further includes a breakaway override that selectively inhibits detachment of the first breakaway coupling portion and the second breakaway coupling portion from each other.
1 . A breakaway device comprising:
a first strap portion;
a second strap portion;
a breakaway coupling comprising:
a first breakaway coupling portion coupled to the first strap portion, the first breakaway coupling portion comprising a ramped recess;
a second breakaway coupling portion coupled to the second strap portion and magnetically coupled to the first breakaway coupling portion, the second breakaway coupling portion comprising a ramped protrusion received in the ramped recess;
a breakaway override coupling coupled to the breakaway coupling, the breakaway override coupling comprising:
a first override coupling portion coupled to the first breakaway coupling portion; and
a second override coupling portion coupled to the second breakaway coupling portion;
wherein the first breakaway coupling portion and the second breakaway coupling portion are configured to detach from each other upon application of a force component in a transverse plane exceeding a threshold, and wherein, when the first breakaway coupling portion and the second breakaway coupling portion are coupled to each other, the first override coupling portion and the second override coupling portion are configured to be selectively coupled to inhibit detachment of the first breakaway coupling portion and the second breakaway coupling portion from each other.
2 . The breakaway device of claim 1 , wherein the first breakaway coupling portion is attracted to the second breakaway coupling portion along an axis of magnetic attraction, and the transverse plane is substantially perpendicular to the axis of magnetic attraction.
3 . The breakaway device of claim 1 , wherein the breakaway coupling lacks any square protrusions coupling the first breakaway coupling portion and the second breakaway coupling portion.
4 . The breakaway device of claim 1 , wherein the first override coupling portion comprises a first ring and the second override coupling portion comprises a second ring.
5 . The breakaway device of claim 1 , wherein the first override coupling portion and the second override coupling portion are pivotable relative to the breakaway coupling.
6 . The breakaway device of claim 1 , wherein the first override coupling portion and the second override coupling portion each comprise a metal.
7 . The breakaway device of claim 1 , wherein the second override coupling portion is slidable along the second strap portion.
8 . The breakaway device of claim 1 , wherein the breakaway override coupling further comprises:
a slot integrated into the second strap portion, the slot extending along a length of the second strap portion and configured guide the movement of the second override coupling portion; and
the second override coupling portion configured to be magnetically secured in a retracted position within the second strap portion.
9 . The breakaway device of claim 8 , wherein the slot is reinforced with a durable material to inhibit wear from repeated sliding of the second override coupling portion.
10 . The breakaway device of claim 1 , wherein the first breakaway coupling portion comprises a magnet including the ramped recess.
11 . A breakaway device comprising:
a first strap portion;
a second strap portion;
a breakaway coupling comprising:
a first breakaway coupling portion coupled to the first strap portion, the first breakaway coupling portion comprising a ramped recess;
a second breakaway coupling portion coupled to the second strap portion and magnetically coupled to the first breakaway coupling portion, the second breakaway coupling portion comprising a frustoconical protrusion received in the ramped recess, the frustoconical protrusion having a protrusion base, an apex surface, and a longitudinal axis extending between the protrusion base and the apex surface, and the apex surface being substantially flat across a diameter thereof;
wherein the first breakaway coupling portion and the second breakaway coupling portion are configured to detach from each other upon application of a force component in a transverse plane exceeding a threshold, the transverse plane being substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
12 . The breakaway device of claim 11 , wherein the breakaway coupling lacks any square protrusions coupling the first breakaway coupling portion and the second breakaway coupling portion.
13 . The breakaway device of claim 11 , further comprising a breakaway override coupling configured to inhibit detachment of the first breakaway coupling portion and the second breakaway coupling portion from each other.
14 . The breakaway device of claim 13 , wherein the breakaway override coupling comprises:
a first override coupling portion coupled to the first breakaway coupling portion; and
a second override coupling portion coupled to the second strap portion, the second override coupling portion configured to detachably couple to the first override coupling portion to inhibit detachment of the first breakaway coupling portion and the second breakaway coupling portion from each other.
15 . The breakaway device of claim 14 , wherein the first override coupling portion comprises a first ring and the second override coupling portion comprises a second ring.
16 . The breakaway device of claim 14 , wherein the first override coupling portion and the second override coupling portion are pivotable relative to the breakaway coupling.
17 . The breakaway device of claim 14 , wherein the first and second override coupling portions each comprise a metal.
18 . The breakaway device of claim 14 , wherein the second override coupling portion is slidable along the second strap portion.
19 . The breakaway device of claim 18 , wherein the override coupling further comprises:
a slot integrated into the second strap portion, the slot extending along a length of the second strap portion and configured guide the movement of the second override coupling portion; and
the second override coupling portion configured to be magnetically secured in a retracted position within the second strap portion.
20 . The breakaway device of claim 19 , wherein the first breakaway coupling portion comprises a magnet including the ramped recess.