Abstract: A process and apparatus for restraining an animal involves urging a spool containing a flexible tension link connectable to the animal, to retract the flexible tension link into a housing. Movement of the spool in a direction associated with retraction disengages a brake urged into braking engagement with the spool, and causes the brake to engage with a lock to lock the brake in an disengaged position. The flexible tension link may be dispensed from the spool while the brake is in the disengaged position. A spool-operated actuator is operably configured to release the lock to permit the brake to engage the spool to stop dispensing the flexible tension link when a selected one of a plurality of discrete pre-determined lengths of flexible tension link has been dispensed. The apparatus may be pivotably mounted on an anchor to restrain the animal from moving any farther than a predefined radius from said anchor.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for restraining an animal involves urging a spool containing a flexible tension link connectable to the animal, to retract the flexible tension link into a housing to which the spool is mounted. Movement of the spool in a direction associated with retraction of the flexible tension link disengages a brake urged into braking engagement with the spool, and causes the brake to engage with a lock operably configured to lock the brake in an disengaged position. The flexible tension link is permitted to be dispensed from the spool while the brake is in the disengaged position. A spool-operated actuator is operably configured to release the lock to permit the brake to engage the spool to stop dispensing the flexible tension link when a selected one of a plurality of discrete pre-determined lengths of flexible tension link has been dispensed from the spool.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for restraining an animal involves urging a spool containing a flexible tension link connectable to the animal, to retract the flexible tension link into a housing to which the spool is mounted. Movement of the spool in a direction associated with retraction of the flexible tension link disengages a brake urged into braking engagement with the spool, and causes the brake to engage with a lock operably configured to lock the brake in an unengaged position. The flexible tension link is permitted to be dispensed from the spool when the brake is in the unengaged position, and a hand operated actuator on the housing can release the lock to permit the brake to engage the spool to stop dispensing the flexible tension link in response to actuation of the hand operated actuator. The process further involves enabling a spool-operated actuator to release the lock to permit the brake to engage the spool to stop dispensing the flexible tension link.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for restraining an animal involves urging a spool containing a flexible tension link connectable to the animal, to retract the flexible tension link into a housing to which the spool is mounted. Movement of the spool in a direction associated with retraction of the flexible tension link disengages a brake urged into braking engagement with the spool, and causes the brake to engage with a lock operably configured to lock the brake in an unengaged position. The flexible tension link is permitted to be dispensed from the spool when the brake is in the unengaged position, and a hand operated actuator on the housing can release the lock to permit the brake to engage the spool to stop dispensing the flexible tension link in response to actuation of the hand operated actuator. The process further involves enabling a spool-operated actuator to release the lock to permit the brake to engage the spool to stop dispensing the flexible tension link.