Animal restraint system and universal seat buckle
A restraint system for pets is disclosed having a leash portion with a buckle at one end for securing to an automotive seat belt and a clasp at the other end for securing to a collar or harness. The buckle sized to cooperate with a variety of different seat belt keepers. The restraint system having a loop spaced from the clasp to allow a user to walk the pet.
This continuation application claims priority to and the full benefit of co-pending U.S. non-provisional patent application Ser. No. 10/277,443 filed Oct. 22, 2002 and entitled “Animal Restraint System and Universal Seat Buckle”, U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/336,091 filed Oct. 23, 2001 entitled “Animal Restraint for a Vehicle”, and U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/340,115 filed Nov. 2, 2001 entitled “Improved Restraint Buckle for use in Multiple Vehicles”, the teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference. Applicant wishes to make reference to Disclosure Document No. 499,364 entitled “Animal (Dog/Cat) Restraint for Automobiles” dated Sep. 4, 2001 and requests the Disclosure Document be retained beyond the two-year time period.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to automotive restraint systems and more particularly to a pet leash with a buckle for securing to a variety of automotive seat belt keepers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONIn transporting animals or pets such as dogs and cats, it is necessary to safely restrain the animal while the vehicle is in motion to prevent harm that may occur upon a sudden stop or accident. It is also desirable to give the animal a certain degree of freedom in moving about the vehicle. The degree of freedom, however, must be limited so that the animal cannot exit the vehicle through a window or other opening while the vehicle is in motion. It is also desirable to prevent the animal from escaping when the vehicle door is opened by the user. While various harnesses have been developed for restraining animals in a vehicle, they either restrain the animal too closely to the vehicle seat with a very limited degree of freedom, or require elaborate fastening systems for fixing the harness to the vehicle.
A tethering arrangement for animals is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,909,154. This arrangement requires a base strap that is slipped over the back of an automobile seat. The base strap supports a ring shaped attaching member that is connected to a tethering strap. The tethering strap includes a short leash that is fixed to the ring shaped attaching member on the base strap. Snap hooks are included at both ends of the tethering strap for attaching to the ring shaped attaching member and a dog collar.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,310,034 discloses a pair of elongated flexible straps for fastening a harness to a pair of eyebolts anchored in the back seat of an automobile. A loop formed at one end of the harness secures the harness to the eyebolt. The other end of the strap is provided with the keeper member of a locking mechanism while the dog harness is provided with a hooked plate adapted to interlock with the keeper member. The straps also pass loosely through rings in the harness.
These arrangements require straps to be fixed to either the vehicle body or the vehicle seat. These assemblies include a retrofit portion for fixing to the vehicle as well as a separate portion for securing to the animal. A problem exists with these arrangements in that it may be difficult to install the elaborate fastening systems required to be fixed or retrofitted to the vehicle.
In the United States, there are over thirty makes of passenger vehicles available to consumers. Among these makes of passenger vehicles, each offers several models. Each of these vehicles are required to contain a passenger restraint system currently consisting of a seat belt having a buckle on one end which is securable to a keeper which is connected to the vehicle usually at a location on the floor. The buckle is designed to latch into the keeper. The keeper typically contains a release mechanism consisting of a button that may be depressed by the passenger to separate the buckle from the keeper. Since each keeper is uniquely mateable with the buckles within a vehicle and in particular a certain buckle within the vehicle, the keeper and the buckle may be a unique mateable set having dimensions for being only mated with a keeper for a particular make and model.
In some situations, it is desirable to utilize the keeper within a vehicle for connection to a device other than the passenger restraint device (seat belt). For example, a buckle may be attached to a tether which in turn is attached to an animal, a package, or any other object in order to secure the animal, package or object within the vehicle. In these situations, a problem exists in that a separate unique buckle must be designed and attached to such a tether in order to fit each make and model. Since there are at least thirty makes, each having multiple models currently available, manufacturing and stocking unique buckles for each make and model becomes difficult and expensive.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIt is therefore desirable to provide an animal restraint system that safely restrains the animal to an existing seat belt keeper.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a novel animal restraint system for securing an animal in a vehicle is provided having a length of tether with a first end with a clasp for connecting to a pet collar or harness and a second end with a first releasably connector. The first releasably connector coupleable to a mating connector, the mating connector being part of a length adjustor. The length adjustor having an opening through which a portion of tether is inserted. The tether coupled to the length adjustor and the first connector to form a loop upon which a buckle may be carried, the buckle coupleable to an automotive seat belt keeper.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a novel animal restraint system for securing an animal in a vehicle is provided having a length of tether having a first end and a second end with a clasp for connecting to a pet collar or harness being coupled about the first end. The system further having a length adjustor with a first opening through which a portion of the tether is inserted. The length adjustor coupled to the second end of the tether to form a loop for carrying a buckle, the buckle coupleable to an automotive seat belt keeper.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a novel animal restraint system for securing an animal in a vehicle is provided having a length of tether with a clasp at a first end for connecting to a pet collar or harness. The system further having a buckle with a tongue section for coupling to an automotive seat belt keeper and a length adjustor with an opening through which a portion of the tether is inserted, the length adjustor forming a second loop for restraining the buckle.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a buckle mateable with a plurality of vehicle restraint system keepers is provided having a tether restraint section and a tongue section extending from the tether restraint section, the tongue section having a slot formed therein. The tongue having an overall width of less than approximately 0.8″, a thickness of less than approximately 0.13″ and a front wall portion having a width of less than approximately 0.23″; the slot having an overall width of greater than approximately 0.52″ and a length of greater than approximately 0.99″.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a buckle is provided having a tongue section and a tether retaining section coupled to the tongue section. The tether retaining section having generally parallel first and second openings through which a tether may be inserted. The tongue section having a slot formed therein, the tongue section having a thickness of less than 0.13″, an overall width of less than approximately 0.8″, and a front wall portion having a width of less than approximately 0.23″, the slot having an overall width of greater than approximately 0.53″ and a length of greater than approximately 0.9″.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a buckle is provided having a tongue section and a tether retaining section coupled to the tongue section. The tether retaining section having generally parallel first and second openings through which a tether may be inserted, the longitudinal axis of the openings being oriented at an angle other than generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the buckle.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a novel animal restraint system for securing an animal in a vehicle is provided having a length of tether with a clasp for connecting to a pet collar or harness coupled about a first end and a buckle having a tongue section and a tether restraint section, the tongue section for coupling to an automotive seat belt keeper. The tether retaining section having generally parallel first and second openings through which a tether may be inserted.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method of converting a pet leash with a clasp at a first end and a loop at a second end into a pet restraint system is disclosed. The method comprising the steps of providing a buckle having a tether restraint section with generally parallel first and second openings and a tongue section coupled to the tether restraining section and then threading a selected one of the first end and the second end of the pet leash serially through the first and second openings.
The above and other objects, feature, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent in the following detailed description thereof when read in conjunction with the appended drawings wherein the same reference numerals denote the same or similar parts throughout the several views.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The clasp 106 is preferably a snap hook and may be coupled to a first end of the tether 102 by a loop 112. The loop 112 may be formed by inserting the tether 102 through an opening 114 in the clasp and then folding the tether back upon itself and either stitching the two pieces of tether material together or coupling them together using a mechanical fastener or adhesive. Alternatively, the tether may be mechanical or adhesively coupled to the clasp 106 without a loop. The clasp 106 may also include a swivel portion 116 that allows the clasp to rotate relative to the tether. Clasps include, but are not limited to snap hooks, quick links, screwgate and snapgate carabiner 106′ and 106′″, and mateable quick release buckles.
The length adjustor 104 may have an opening/s 118 through which the tether 102 may be inserted and a second connector 120. The length adjustor 104 may be moved along the tether 102 to change the overall length of the system from the clasp 106 to the buckle 108. The second connector 120 may be a mateable quick release buckle.
The first connector 110 may be coupled to a second end of the tether 102 by a loop 122. The loop 122 may be formed by inserting the tether 102 through an opening 124 in the connector and then folding the tether back upon itself and either stitching the two pieces of tether material together or coupling them together using a mechanical fastener or adhesive. Alternatively, the tether may be mechanical or adhesively coupled to the connector 110 without a loop. The first connector 110 may be releaseably coupleable to the second connector 120 to allow a pet owner to secure the system 100 to a structure, such as a tree or fence. A loop 134 may be formed between the length adjustor 104 and the first connector 110 when the first and second connectors are coupled together. The loop 134 may provide a convenient grasping location, spaced from the clasp 106, to allow a user to restrain his pet when the buckle 128 is separated from the keeper 126.
The buckle 108 is preferably sized to fit in a variety of seat belt keepers 126. The buckle has an opening 128 through which the tether 102 may be inserted. The buckle 108 may be carried by the loop 134. The keeper 126 (see
The length adjustor 204, as shown in
A loop 222 formed about the second end of the tether 202 may be coupled to one or more of the web portions.
A loop 234 may be formed between the length adjustor 204 and the loop 222. The loop 234 may provide a convenient grasping location, spaced from the clasp 206, to allow a user to walk his pet.
The buckle 208 is preferably sized to fit in a variety of seat belt keepers. The buckle has an opening 228 through which the tether 202 may be inserted. The buckle 208 may be carried by the loop 234.
As best shown in
As shown in
The preferred dimensions of the buckle 108/208 will now be described in greater detail. First, referring to
These dimensions have been selected to allow a latch mechanism in the keepers 126 of a plurality of manufacturers' vehicles to latch within the slot 152. Although the keepers 126 are not shown here in detail, it should be understood that they comprise a slot into which the tongue section 142 fits and a latch mechanism inside the keeper for engaging the slot 152. Also, the outer dimensions of the tongue 142 as described above are selected to fit within the plurality of vehicles make and models keeper retention slot. The angled lead in portions 154 are also angled and dimensionally selected to fit within several manufacturers' vehicles' keepers. It should also be understood while the improved buckle 108/208 are profiled to fit within a plurality of manufacturers' vehicle restraint system keepers, it may lock and secure to several of these keepers while having a certain degree of play due to the dimensional tolerance of the slot 152 and its ability to fit both narrow and wide keeper latching mechanisms.
It should be understood by those reasonably skilled in the art that this buckle 108/208 may be utilized in connection with any device which is to be used as a universal vehicle accessory sold either together with or separately from the vehicle and adapted to fit multiple vehicle manufacturers' makes and models.
In use, the animal restraint 100 may be adjusted to a desired length utilizing the length adjustor 104/204 as described with reference to
A loop 734 may be formed between the length adjustor 704 and a loop 722. The loop 734 may provide a convenient grasping location, spaced from the clasp 706, to allow a user to walk his pet. The loop 734 may carry just a buckle 708, just a clasp 706′, or both a buckle 708 and a clasp 706′. The clasp 706′ may be used to secure the pet to a feature in the vehicle, such as a car seat bar.
It should further be understood that, while the present invention has been described in detail herein, the invention can be embodied otherwise without departing from the principles thereof, and such other embodiments are meant to come within the scope of the present invention as defined in the following claims.
Claims
1. An animal restraint system for securing an animal in a vehicle comprising:
- a length of tether having a first end and a second end;
- a clasp for connecting to a pet collar or harness, the clasp being coupled about the first end;
- a first connector being coupled about the second end;
- a length adjustor having an opening through which a portion of the tether is inserted and a second connector, the second connector releasably coupleable to the first connector; and
- a buckle for coupling to an automotive seat belt keeper, the buckle being carried by the tether and disposed between the length adjustor and the second end.
2. The animal restraint system of claim 1, wherein the tether comprises a first loop formed at the first end and a second loop formed at the second end.
3. The animal restraint system of claim 2, wherein the clasp comprises an opening through which the tether is inserted.
4. The animal restraint system of claim 2, wherein the clasp comprises a slide mechanism moveable between an open position and a closed position.
5. The animal restraint system of claim 2, wherein the clasp comprises a carabiner clip.
6. The animal restraint system of claim 1, wherein the buckle comprises a tether restraint section through which the tether is inserted.
7. The animal restraint system of claim 6, wherein the buckle further comprises a tongue section extending from the tether restraint section, the tongue section having a slot formed therein, the tongue section having a thickness of less than approximately 0.13″, an overall width of less than approximately 0.8″, and a front wall portion having a width of less than approximately 0.23″, the slot having an overall width of greater than approximately 0.53″ and a length of greater than approximately 0.99″.
8. The animal restraint system of claim 7, wherein the front wall portion has a pair of lead in sections having a width of less than approximately 0.17″.
9. The animal restraint system of claim 1, wherein one of the first and the second connector is a pinch clip.
10. The animal restraint system of claim 1, wherein a portion of the clasp is rotatable about the end of the tether.
11. An animal restraint system for securing an animal in a vehicle comprising:
- a length of tether having a first end and a second end;
- a clasp for connecting to a pet collar or harness, the clasp being coupled about the first end;
- a length adjustor having a first opening through which portion of the tether is inserted, the adjustor being coupled to the second end of the tether to form a loop; and
- a buckle for coupling to an automotive seat belt keeper, the buckle being coupled to the loop.
12. The animal restraint system of claim 11, wherein the length adjustor comprises a second opening spaced from the first opening by a web portion.
13. The animal restraint system of claim 12, wherein the second end is inserted through the second opening.
14. The animal restraint system of claim 11, wherein the second end is coupled to the web portion.
15. The animal restraint system of claim 14, wherein the tether extends through the first opening and the second opening.
16. The animal restraint system of claim 11, wherein movement of length adjustor along the tether adjusts the length of tether between the length adjustor and the buckle.
17. The animal restraint system of claim 11, wherein the buckle comprises a tether restraint section through which the tether is inserted.
18. The animal restraint system of claim 11, wherein the buckle further comprises a tongue section extending from the tether restraint section, the tongue section having a slot formed therein, the tongue section having a thickness of less than approximately 0.13″, an overall width of less than approximately 0.8″, and a front wall portion having a width of less than approximately 0.23″, the slot having an overall width of greater than approximately 0.53″ and a length of greater than approximately 0.99″.
19. An animal restraint system for securing an animal in a vehicle comprising:
- a length of tether having a first end;
- a clasp for connecting to a pet collar or harness, the clasp being coupled about the first end of the tether;
- a buckle having a tongue section for coupling to an automotive seat belt keeper; and
- a length adjustor having an opening through which a portion of the tether is inserted, the length adjustor forming a loop for restraining the buckle.
20. An animal restraint system for securing an animal in a vehicle comprising:
- a length of tether having a first end;
- a clasp for connecting to a pet collar or harness, the clasp being coupled about the first end of the tether; and
- a buckle having a tongue section and a tether restraint section, the tongue section for coupling to an automotive seat belt keeper, and the tether restraint section having generally parallel first and second closed-sided openings through which a tether may be inserted and removably retained therewithin, and resist accidental dislodgement as a function of the first and second closed-sided openings.
21. The animal restraint system of claim 20, wherein a longitudinal axis of the slots are generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the buckle.
22. The animal restraint system of claim 20, wherein a loop is formed about the second end of the tether.
23. The animal restraint system of claim 22, wherein the buckle is disposed between the clasp and the loop.
24. The animal restraint system of claim 23, wherein the loop is coupled to the tether by an organizer.
25. An animal restraint system for securing an animal in a vehicle comprising:
- a length of tether having a first end and a second end;
- a first clasp for connecting to a pet collar or harness, the first clasp being coupled proximal the first end of the length of tether,
- wherein the second end of the length of tether comprises a member, the member selected from the group consisting of at least one second clasp for connecting to a pet collar or harness, a buckle for coupling to an automotive seat belt keeper, and a combination thereof.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 4, 2004
Publication Date: Jun 16, 2005
Inventor: Michael O'Neill (Marietta, GA)
Application Number: 10/957,881