Leash with inline article dispenser

An apparatus in the form of an article dispenser comprising:

• a first end;
• a second end;
• a rigid housing that is disposed between the first end and the second end, that defines an internal volume for storing articles, wherein a majority of tensile load borne from the first end to the second end through the housing is transferred along a portion of the housing that is disposed around the internal volume and that continues along a majority of a length of the housing,
• wherein the housing defines slots within the internal volume, each of the slots defining a channel that slidably receives an end of a spindle and further defining a portion that retains the end of the spindle;
• and
• a hatch that communicates with the internal volume, and is affixed to the housing via a hinge, wherein while the hatch is in an open position, the internal volume is exposed for receiving the spindle, and while the hatch is in a closed position, portions of the hatch obstruct access from the portions of the slots to the channels of the slots, thereby preventing sliding of the ends of the spindle,
• wherein in response to the article dispenser bearing a threshold amount of tension, a centroid of the article dispenser aligns within a threshold distance of being collinear with a force that generates the tension,
• wherein the threshold distance is one quarter of a dimension selected from the group consisting of a width of the article dispenser and a height of the article dispenser.

A system in the form of a leash with an integrated article dispenser, the system comprising:

• a first tensile member;
• a second tensile member;
• and
• an article dispenser disposed between the first tensile member and the second tensile member, the article dispenser comprising:
• a first end comprising a loop that directly contacts the first tensile member;
• a second end comprising a loop that directly contacts the second tensile member;
• a rigid housing that is integral with the first end and the second end, is disposed between the first end and the second end, defines an internal volume for storing articles, and further defines an opening which communicates between the internal volume and an exterior of the housing, wherein a length of the opening corresponds with a dimension of the articles, and a majority of tensile load is borne from the first end to the second end through the housing along a portion of the housing that is disposed around the internal volume and that continues along a majority of a length of the housing,
• wherein the housing defines slots within the internal volume, each of the slots defining a channel that slidably receives an end of a spindle and further defining a portion that retains the end of the spindle;
• a hatch that communicates with the internal volume, and is affixed to the housing via a hinge, wherein while the hatch is in an open position, an entirety of the internal volume is exposed for receiving the spindle, and while the hatch is in a closed position, portions of the hatch obstruct access from the portions of the slots to the channels of the slots, thereby preventing sliding of the ends of the spindle,
• wherein the hatch defines a second opening that is disposed opposite the first opening, and the hatch comprises:
• embosses that cover the slots while the hatch is closed;
• and
• receptacles that couple with prongs at the housing to secure the hatch in place at the housing;
• and
• the spindle, wherein the spindle is disposed within the internal volume and stores the articles,
• wherein in response to the article dispenser bearing a threshold amount of tension between the tensile members, a centroid of the article dispenser aligns within a threshold distance of being collinear with a force that generates the tension,
• wherein while the centroid of the article dispenser is within the threshold distance of being collinear with the force, rotation of the system about an axis of the force does not cause the article dispenser to apply more than a threshold torque to the tensile members,
• wherein the threshold distance is one quarter of a dimension selected from the group consisting of a width of the article dispenser and a height of the article dispenser, and the threshold amount of tension is between one half pound of force and five pounds of force, and
• wherein the spindle is oriented such that its central axis is collinear with the force.