Retractor Mechanism For Collars

摘要

A retractor mechanism for a pet collar. The mechanism includes a case with a cavity, a spool assembly with a spool plate, a line wound on the spool assembly with a free end exiting the case that is attached to a leash handle, a power spring that biases the spool assembly to a wound state, and a centrifugal/inertial brake having with a lock member with a heavier distal end a lighter proximal end, and lock member spring. The lock member pivots on the spool plate. When the spool assembly is spun above a threshold rotations speed, a centripetal force acting on the distal end of the lock member exceeds a spring force of the lock member spring acting on the proximal end of the lock member, thereby pivoting the lock member into contact with a catch in the cavity of the case to prevent the spool assembly from rotating further.

主权项

1. A retractor mechanism for a pet collar, comprising:
a case including a cavity, and having a line egress; a spool assembly with a spool plate rotatably positioned in the cavity; a line having a fixed end and a free end, the line being wound on the spool assembly and affixed at the fixed end to the spool assembly, with the free end extending from the line egress in the case; a power spring engaged with the spool assembly and the case, which power spring biases the spool assembly and the line to a wound state; a centrifugal/inertial brake having a lock member and lock member spring, the lock member having a distal lock end, a proximal end, and a pivot for pivotally engaging the lock member to the spool plate, the lock member being biased by the lock member spring to a unlocked position wherein the distal lock end is pivoted inwardly into the spool plate, and movable to a locked position where the distal lock end pivots outwardly where it impinges on the case and prevents further rotation of the spool assembly, wherein the unlocked position is maintained when the spool assembly are either not rotating or not rotating above a threshold rotational speed and wherein if the spool assembly is rotated above the threshold rotational speed then a biasing force of the spring acting on the lock member is overcome and the distal lock end of the lock member pivots to its locked position.