Pet Leash Carried By A Pet

Abstract

The system has two parts, a carrier and a leash handle housing. The carrier attaches to a pet. The carrier also has structure for the leash handle housing to engage the carrier. Some of the engagement structure helps secure the carrier and leash handle housing together. Some of the structure is designed to be released so that user can pull the leash handle housing from the carrier. A leash on the housing connects to the carrier or elsewhere on the pet. A retraction mechanism in the housing can retract the leash or allow it to retract so that the pet can move away from the user.

1 . A system for a user to connect to a pet comprising:
 a carrier attachable to the pet;   a leash handle housing removably attachable to the carrier; and   a leash handle mechanism in the leash handle housing and a leash attached to the leash handle mechanism, the leash handle mechanism permitting the leash to extend from the leash handle and retracting the leash into the leash handle housing.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the carrier has a recess, and the leash handle housing further comprises structure engaging the recess when the carrier and leash handle housing are attached to each other. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1  the wherein leash handle housing further comprises a pair of spaced-apart arms extending from the leash handle housing and a handle extending between the spaced-apart arms. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein leash handle housing further comprises a pair of spaced-apart arms extending from the leash handle housing, the carrier further comprising a spring-detent connection to engage at least one of the spaced-apart arms. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein leash handle housing further comprises a pair of spaced-apart arms extending from the leash handle housing, the carrier further comprising a slider mounted for sliding within the carrier and engageable with a portion of at least one of the spaced-apart arms. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising at least one slot on the carrier and at least one tab on the leash handle housing for engaging the at least one slot when the carrier and leash handle housing engage each other. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a spool lock engageable with the leash handle mechanism to prevent the leash from retracting or advancing when the spool lock is engaged. 
   
   
       8 . An apparatus for connecting to a pet, the apparatus comprising a carrier and means for connecting the carrier to the pet, a leash handle housing, a retractor mechanism inside the leash handle housing and a leash attached to the retractor mechanism, the carrier and leash handle housing being removably connected to each other. 
   
   
       9 . A method of connecting a user and pet together comprising:
 attaching a carrier to the pet;   attaching a handle housing to the carrier through engaging structure on the handle housing with structure on the carrier, the handle housing having a leash attachable to the pet; and   the user removing the handle housing from the carrier to permit the pet to move away from the user by advancing the leash from the handle housing.