Systems and methods for a lighted animal restraint

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12550870-B2
Application number	US-201916687306-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 18, 2019
Priority date	Nov 18, 2019
Publication date	Feb 17, 2026
Grant date	Feb 17, 2026

Abstract

An animal restraint is either a leash or a collar. The animal restraint includes a lighting module and a circuit board, the circuit board enclosed in the lighting module. The animal restraint further includes a first light source connected to the circuit board, such that the first light source does not have a fixed position in relation to the circuit board, the first light source enclosed in the lighting module. The animal restraint further includes a fiber optic connected to and receiving light from the first light source, the fiber optic at least partially in the lighting module. The animal restraint further includes a first flat strap, the fiber optic surrounded by the first flat strap.

First claim

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1 . An animal restraint, the animal restraint comprising:
a lighting module; a fiber optic connected to and receiving light from the lighting module; a first pocket, the fiber optic located in the first pocket, the first pocket formed by wrapping a first strap made of webbing around the fiber optic and stitching through a second strap made of webbing and the first strap, such that the fiber optic is in the first pocket formed by the first strap and the second strap is outside of the first strap and light is omitted from the fiber optic through the first strap to light the animal restraint.

2 . The animal restraint of claim 1 , wherein the animal restraint is a leash or a collar.

3 . The animal restraint of claim 1 , wherein the first strap is a tube and wherein the second strap is connected to an interior of the first strap along the length of the first strap, such that at least a portion of the fiber optic is positioned within the first pocket and located between the first strap and the connection of the second strap to the first strap.

4 . The animal restraint of claim 1 , further comprising:
the second strap stitched to the exterior of the first strap along the length of the first strap to create within the first pocket along a first and second long edge of the first strap.

5 . The animal restraint of claim 4 , wherein the fiber optic has a u-shape and is aligned along the first and second long edge of the first strap.

6 . The animal restraint of claim 5 , wherein the fiber optic receives light from the lighting module at both ends of the fiber optic.

7 . The animal restraint of claim 6 , wherein a first light source is located at a first end of the fiber optic and a second light source is located at a second end of the fiber optic.

8 . The animal restraint of claim 7 , wherein the first light source and the second light source are LEDs.

9 . The animal restraint of claim of claim 8 , wherein the first end of the fiber optic is immediately adjacent to the first light source and the first light source and the first end of the fiber optic are connected.

10 . The animal restraint of claim 9 , wherein the first light source and the first end of the fiber optic are taped together.

11 . The animal restraint of claim 10 , wherein the first light source is connected to a power source via wires.

12 . The animal restraint of claim 10 , wherein the first light source is connected to a circuit board via wires.

13 . The animal restraint of claim of claim 12 wherein the wires and the first and second light source are located in the lighting module.

14 . The animal restraint of claim 13 , wherein the lighting module is substantially enclosed.

15 . The animal restraint of claim 1 , wherein each of the first strap and the second strap is a strap of webbing.

16 . An animal restraint, the animal restraint selected from a group consisting of a leash and a collar, the animal restraint comprising:
a lighting module; a circuit board, the circuit board enclosed in the lighting module; a first light source connected to the circuit board, such that the first light source does not have a fixed position in relation to the circuit board, the first light source enclosed in the lighting module; a fiber optic connected to and receiving light from the first light source, the fiber optic at least partially in the lighting module; a first pocket, the fiber optic located in the first pocket, the first pocket formed by wrapping a first strap made of webbing around the fiber optic and stitching through a second strap made of webbing and the first strap, such that the fiber optic is in the first pocket formed by the first strap and second strap is outside of the first strap and light is omitted from the fiber optic through the first strap to light the animal restraint.

17 . The animal restraint of claim 16 , wherein the first strap is a tube and the second strap is positioned along the length of the first strap.

18 . The animal restraint of claim 17 , further comprising:
the second strap stitched to the exterior of the first strap along the length of the first strap to create within the first pocket along the first and second long edge of the first strap.

19 . The animal restraint of claim 16 , wherein the fiber optic has a u-shape and is aligned along the first and second long edge of the first strap.

20 . The animal restraint of claim 16 , wherein the fiber optic receives light from the lighting module at both ends of the fiber optic.

21 . A method of lighting an animal restraint, the method comprising:
providing an animal restraint, the animal restraint including:
a lighting module;
a circuit board, the circuit board enclosed in the lighting module;
a first light source connected to the circuit board, such that the first light source does not have a fixed position in relation to the circuit board, the first light source enclosed in the lighting module;
a fiber optic connected to and receiving light from the first light source, the fiber optic at least partially in the lighting module;
a first pocket, the fiber optic located in the first pocket, the first pocket formed by wrapping a first strap made of webbing around the fiber optic and stitching through a second strap made of webbing and the first strap, such that the fiber optic is in the first pocket formed by the first strap and second strap is outside of the first strap;
activating the first light source, the second strap separating the first pocket; transmitting light through the fiber optic; and emitting light through the first strap.

Assignees

• Nite Ize Inc

Inventors

• Ormsbee Bowden
• Karacostas Dale
• Lesperance Leo

Classifications

• A01K27/003

  Leads, leashes · CPC title

• A01K27/001

  Collars · CPC title

• G02B6/001

  the light being emitted along at least a portion of the lateral surface of the fibre · CPC title

• A01K27/006 Primary

  with light-emitting or ornamental devices · CPC title