Animal restraint system and universal seat buckle

Abstract

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.

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.