Retractable leash system

Abstract

An animal restraint system which involves variable adjustability of maximum extension. A braking device with a pivoting tip which can move from a neutral position to a locked engaged position, a disengaged position, and a semi-engaged position. The semi-engaged position allows for spool rotation in the direction of retraction, while preventing spool rotation in the direction of extension. A brake lock with multiple settings including engaged position, disengaged position, and a semi-engaged position. A spool with teeth where one or more of the teeth is different from the others in shape, size or relative position to promote brake engagement efficiency. A leash maximum settings display. A moving “leash” guide which reduces tangling during extension and retraction. An adjustable handle grip to accommodate different hand sizes. A snap-on accessory attachment system. A leash dispenser system which limits full extension to reduce system failure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A retractable retention system comprising:
 a) a housing;   b) a cord comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion;   c) a spool rotatably disposed within the housing such that the spool can rotate in either a first radial direction or a second radial direction, the spool being adapted to retain the cord, the proximal portion of the cord being coupled to the spool, the spool having a plurality of spaced apart teeth and the plurality of teeth vary in size, shape and spacing; and   d) a braking system disposed within the housing and coupled to spool to prevent the spool from rotating in the second direction.   
     
     
         2 . The retractable retention system of  claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises a handle. 
     
     
         3 . The retractable retention system of  claim 2 , wherein the handle comprises:
 a) an interior surface and an exterior surface;   b) a handle guide receptacle disposed along the interior surface of the handle; and   c) a slidable handle grip coupled to the interior surface of the handle and adapted to slide in a first direction or a second direction relative to the interior surface of the handle to accommodate different sized users hands.   
     
     
         4 . The retractable retention system of  claim 3 , wherein the slidable handle grip comprises an adjustment guide disposed within the handle guide receptacle. 
     
     
         5 . The retractable retention system of  claim 1 , wherein the proximal portion of the cord is wound at least once around the spool. 
     
     
         6 . The retractable retention system of  claim 1 , wherein the spool is freely rotatable in the first direction and wherein the braking system prevents the spool from rotating in the second direction. 
     
     
         7 . The retractable retention system of  claim 1 , wherein the braking system comprises:
 a) a brake engagement element which is movably attached to the housing, the brake engagement element comprising an exterior portion and an interior portion; and   b) a brake insert, the brake insert having a base portion and a brake tip portion, the base portion being rotatably coupled to the interior portion of the brake engagement element such that the brake tip portion can be rotated in either direction between a first position, a second position, and a third position, the second position being between the first position and the third position, the brake tip portion being biased to the second position, the brake insert being adapted such that the brake tip portion can be inserted between the plurality of spaced apart teeth to prevent the rotation of the spool in the second radial direction.   
     
     
         8 . The retractable retention system of  claim 7  further comprising an adjustable brake actuation system, the adjustable brake actuation system comprising:
 a) an adjustment auger rotatably coupled to the brake engagement element, the adjustment auger being capable of alternatively moving relative to the housing in a first adjustment auger linear direction to move the brake tip portion to between the plurality of spaced apart teeth and a second adjustment auger linear direction to move the brake tip portion away from between the plurality of spaced apart teeth, the adjustment auger being biased in the second adjustment auger linear direction; 
 b) a rotatable adjustment dial coupled to the adjustment auger such that the rotation of the adjustment dial in a first adjustment dial radial direction rotates the adjustment auger in a first adjustment auger radial direction and the rotation of the adjustment dial in a second adjustment dial radial direction rotates the adjustment auger in a second adjustment auger radial direction; 
 c) a stop threadably attached to the adjustment auger such that the rotation of the adjustment auger in the first adjustment auger radial direction causes the stop to travel along the adjustment auger in a first stop linear direction, and the rotation of the adjustment auger in the second adjustment auger radial direction causes the stop to travel along the adjustment auger in a second stop linear direction; and 
 d) a brake actuation auger operatively coupled to the spool such that the rotation of the spool in the first spool radial direction causes the brake actuation auger to rotate in a first brake actuation auger radial direction, and the rotation of the spool in the second spool radial direction causes the brake actuation auger to rotate in a second brake actuation auger radial direction, the brake actuation auger comprising a brake actuator threaded onto the brake actuation auger such that the rotation of the brake actuation auger in the first auger radial direction causes the brake actuator to travel in a first brake actuator linear direction and such that the rotation of the brake actuation auger in the second brake actuation auger radial direction causes the brake actuator to travel in a second brake actuator linear direction, the traveling of the brake actuator in the second brake actuator linear direction causes the brake actuator to eventually contact the stop, and the continued traveling of the brake actuator in the second brake actuator linear direction causes the brake actuator to push the stop and the adjustment auger in the first adjustment auger linear direction to move the brake tip portion to between the plurality of spaced apart teeth, and the traveling of the brake actuator in the first brake actuator linear direction causes the brake actuator to move away from the stop to allow the adjustment auger to travel in the second adjustment auger linear direction and move the brake tip portion from between the plurality of spaced apart teeth. 
 
     
     
         9 . The retractable retention system of  claim 7  further comprising a cord extension limiting system, the cord extension limiting system comprising:
 a) a stop coupled to the brake engagement element by a stop support, the stop being disposed at a location that prevents full cord extension, the stop support being capable of alternatively moving relative to the housing in a first stop support linear direction to move the brake tip portion to between the plurality of spaced apart teeth and a second stop support linear direction to move the brake tip portion away from between the plurality of spaced apart teeth, the stop support being biased in the second stop support linear direction; and 
 b) an auger operatively coupled to the spool such that the rotation of the spool in the first spool radial direction causes the auger to rotate in a first auger radial direction and the rotation of the spool in the second spool radial direction causes the auger to rotate in a second auger radial direction, the auger comprising a brake actuator threaded onto the auger such that the rotation of the auger in the first auger radial direction causes the brake actuator to travel in a first brake actuator linear direction and such that the rotation of the auger in the second auger radial direction causes the brake actuator to travel in a second brake actuator linear direction, the traveling of the brake actuator in the second brake actuator linear direction causes the brake actuator to eventually contact the stop, the continued traveling of the brake actuator in the second brake actuator linear direction causes the brake actuator to push the stop and the stop support in the first linear stop support direction to move the brake tip to between the plurality of spaced apart teeth and the traveling of the brake actuator in the first brake actuator linear direction causes the brake actuator to move away from the stop to allow the stop support to travel in the second stop support linear direction and move the brake tip from between the plurality of spaced apart teeth. 
 
     
     
         10 . The retractable retention system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of spaced apart teeth are disposed around the perimeter of the spool. 
     
     
         11 . A retractable retention system comprising:
 a) a housing;   b) a cord comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion;   c) a spool rotatably disposed within the housing such that the spool can rotate in either a first radial direction or a second radial direction, the spool being adapted to retain the cord, the proximal portion of the cord being coupled to the spool, the spool having a plurality of spaced apart teeth and the plurality of teeth vary in size, shape or spacing; and   d) a braking system disposed within the housing and coupled to spool to prevent the spool from rotating in the second direction.   
     
     
         12 . The retractable retention system of  claim 11 , wherein the housing further comprises a handle. 
     
     
         13 . The retractable retention system of  claim 12 , wherein the handle comprises:
 a) an interior surface and an exterior surface;   b) a handle guide receptacle disposed along the interior surface of the handle; and   c) a slidable handle grip coupled to the interior surface of the handle and adapted to slide in a first direction or a second direction relative to the interior surface of the handle to accommodate different sized users hands.   
     
     
         14 . The retractable retention system of  claim 13 , wherein the slidable handle grip comprises an adjustment guide disposed within the handle guide receptacle. 
     
     
         15 . The retractable retention system of  claim 11 , wherein the proximal portion of the cord is wound at least once around the spool. 
     
     
         16 . The retractable retention system of  claim 11 , wherein the spool is freely rotatable in the first direction and wherein the braking system prevents the spool from rotating in the second direction. 
     
     
         17 . The retractable retention system of  claim 11 , wherein the braking system comprises:
 a) a brake engagement element which is movably attached to the housing, the brake engagement element comprising an exterior portion and an interior portion; and   b) a brake insert, the brake insert having a base portion and a brake tip portion, the base portion being rotatably coupled to the interior portion of the brake engagement element such that the brake tip portion can be rotated in either direction between a first position, a second position, and a third position, the second position being between the first position and the third position, the brake tip portion being biased to the second position, the brake insert being adapted such that the brake tip portion can be inserted between the plurality of spaced apart teeth to prevent the rotation of the spool in the second radial direction.   
     
     
         18 . The retractable retention system of  claim 17  further comprising an adjustable brake actuation system, the adjustable brake actuation system comprising:
 a) an adjustment auger rotatably coupled to the brake engagement element, the adjustment auger being capable of alternatively moving relative to the housing in a first adjustment auger linear direction to move the brake tip portion to between the plurality of spaced apart teeth and a second adjustment auger linear direction to move the brake tip portion away from between the plurality of spaced apart teeth, the adjustment auger being biased in the second adjustment auger linear direction; 
 b) a rotatable adjustment dial coupled to the adjustment auger such that the rotation of the adjustment dial in a first adjustment dial radial direction rotates the adjustment auger in a first adjustment auger radial direction and the rotation of the adjustment dial in a second adjustment dial radial direction rotates the adjustment auger in a second adjustment auger radial direction; 
 c) a stop threadably attached to the adjustment auger such that the rotation of the adjustment auger in the first adjustment auger radial direction causes the stop to travel along the adjustment auger in a first stop linear direction, and the rotation of the adjustment auger in the second adjustment auger radial direction causes the stop to travel along the adjustment auger in a second stop linear direction; and 
 d) a brake actuation auger operatively coupled to the spool such that the rotation of the spool in the first spool radial direction causes the brake actuation auger to rotate in a first brake actuation auger radial direction, and the rotation of the spool in the second spool radial direction causes the brake actuation auger to rotate in a second brake actuation auger radial direction, the brake actuation auger comprising a brake actuator threaded onto the brake actuation auger such that the rotation of the brake actuation auger in the first auger radial direction causes the brake actuator to travel in a first brake actuator linear direction and such that the rotation of the brake actuation auger in the second brake actuation auger radial direction causes the brake actuator to travel in a second brake actuator linear direction, the traveling of the brake actuator in the second brake actuator linear direction causes the brake actuator to eventually contact the stop, and the continued traveling of the brake actuator in the second brake actuator linear direction causes the brake actuator to push the stop and the adjustment auger in the first adjustment auger linear direction to move the brake tip portion to between the plurality of spaced apart teeth, and the traveling of the brake actuator in the first brake actuator linear direction causes the brake actuator to move away from the stop to allow the adjustment auger to travel in the second adjustment auger linear direction and move the brake tip portion from between the plurality of spaced apart teeth. 
 
     
     
         19 . The retractable retention system of  claim 17  further comprising a cord extension limiting system, the cord extension limiting system comprising:
 a) a stop coupled to the brake engagement element by a stop support, the stop being disposed at a location that prevents full cord extension, the stop support being capable of alternatively moving relative to the housing in a first stop support linear direction to move the brake tip portion to between the plurality of spaced apart teeth and a second stop support linear direction to move the brake tip portion away from between the plurality of spaced apart teeth, the stop support being biased in the second stop support linear direction; and 
 b) an auger operatively coupled to the spool such that the rotation of the spool in the first spool radial direction causes the auger to rotate in a first auger radial direction and the rotation of the spool in the second spool radial direction causes the auger to rotate in a second auger radial direction, the auger comprising a brake actuator threaded onto the auger such that the rotation of the auger in the first auger radial direction causes the brake actuator to travel in a first brake actuator linear direction and such that the rotation of the auger in the second auger radial direction causes the brake actuator to travel in a second brake actuator linear direction, the traveling of the brake actuator in the second brake actuator linear direction causes the brake actuator to eventually contact the stop, the continued traveling of the brake actuator in the second brake actuator linear direction causes the brake actuator to push the stop and the stop support in the first linear stop support direction to move the brake tip to between the plurality of spaced apart teeth and the traveling of the brake actuator in the first brake actuator linear direction causes the brake actuator to move away from the stop to allow the stop support to travel in the second stop support linear direction and move the brake tip from between the plurality of spaced apart teeth. 
 
     
     
         20 . The retractable retention system of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of spaced apart teeth are disposed around the perimeter of the spool.