# US 2014/0196672 A1 · Plug-in lock for connecting line element and an animal tether with such a plug-in lock > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0196672 A1 - Document ID: US20140196672A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/025,432 - Filed: 2013-09-12 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-16 - Assignees: Flexi-Bogdahn Technik GmbH & Co. KG - Applicants: flexi-Bogdahn Technik GmbH & Co. KG - Inventors: Manfred BOGDAHN; Essaid DIB - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140196672A1 ## CPC - A01K 27/005: {Quick-couplings, safety-couplings or shock-absorbing devices between leash and collar} - A01K 27/003: {Leads, leashes} - A44B 11/2596: {the movement being transverse to the longitudinal direction of the strap or chain} - A44B 11/263: {with a push-button acting perpendicularly to the main plane of the buckle} - Y10T 24/45225: including member having distinct formations and mating member selectively interlocking therewith - A01K: ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS - A44B: BUTTONS, PINS, BUCKLES, SLIDE FASTENERS, OR THE LIKE (fastenings specially adapted for footwear A43C) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A plug-in lock (1) for connecting flexible and/or rigid line elements (43, 44) with a plug-in part (11) and a receiving part (12), whereby a positive-locking connection (14) is provided for transmitting a tensile force for establishing a detachable connection of the plug-in part (11) to the receiving part (12). In order to prevent an unintentional detaching of the connection of the plug-in part (11) from the receiving part (12) even at high tensile forces and at the same time to make possible a simple operability and cost-effective manufacture, the plug-in lock has a securing device (13, 25) separate from the positive-locking connection (14) for preventing an unintentional detaching of the positive-locking connection (14). The securing device (13, 25) has an actuating mechanism (33) for detaching the securing device (13, 25). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A plug-in lock for connecting flexible and/or rigid line elements, the plug-in lock comprising: a plug-in part; a receiving part, the plug-in part and the receiving part forming a positive-locking connection for transmitting a tensile force; and a securing means separate from the positive-locking connection for preventing an unintentional detaching of the plug-in part being and the receiving part to disconnect the positive-locking connection, whereby the securing means has an actuating mechanism for detaching the securing means. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A plug-in lock in accordance with claim 1, wherein the positive-locking connection comprises a first positive-locking element and a second positive-locking element providing two rigid positive-locking elements corresponding to one another, whereby the plug-in part includes the first positive-locking element comprising a rigid axial element, and the receiving part includes the second positive-locking element comprising a rigid axial element mount cooperating with the first positive-locking element. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A plug-in lock in accordance with claim 2, wherein at lest one of the securing means and the positive-locking connection is established by an at least partial telescoping of the plug-in part into the receiving part, in a direction transversely at right angles to a longitudinal alignment of the plug-in lock or transversely to a pulling direction of a tensile force acting on the plug-in lock in use, whereby the first positive-locking element is inserted into the second positive-locking element and is led at least partly through an opening of a side wall of the receiving part for providing a raised area. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) A plug-in lock in accordance with claim 2, wherein the two positive-locking elements have at lest one of a self-centering and self-securing design under a tensile load, and the first positive-locking element comprises a notch and the second positive-locking element comprises a projection corresponding to the notch, whereby the notch extends at least partly behind the projection in the positive-locking connection. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A plug-in lock in accordance with claim 1, wherein the plug-in part in the positive-locking connection has an area that is offset inwardly in relation to the receiving part for providing at least one of a depression and an area offset outwardly for providing a raised area. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A plug-in lock in accordance with claim 1, wherein the securing means has at least one of an elastically and spring mounted first locking element cooperating with a rigid second locking element corresponding to the first locking element, wherein the first locking element is associated with the plug-in part and the second locking element is associated with the receiving part. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A plug-in lock in accordance with claim 1, wherein a fastening element is provided within the plug-in part, in an area facing towards the receiving part, for fastening an end of a line element, whereby the fastening element is fastened in a fastening mount associated with the first positive-locking element for covering the fastening of the end of line element. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A plug-in lock in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one of the plug-in part and the actuating mechanism has at least one elastically mounted actuating element defining a pressing surface, for detaching the securing means, whereby the actuating element is connected to the first locking element for detaching the securing means. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A plug-in lock in accordance with claim 1, wherein a ramp is associated with one of the first locking element and the second locking element for leading the first locking element into a position for establishing the securing means as a locking connection. ### Claim 10 An animal tether with a plug-in lock combination comprising: a plug-in lock comprising a plug-in part, a receiving part, the plug-in part and the receiving part forming a positive-locking connection for transmitting a tensile force, a securing means separate from the positive-locking connection for preventing an unintentional detaching of the plug-in part being and the receiving part to disconnect the positive-locking connection, whereby the securing means has an actuating mechanism for detaching the securing means; and a leash with a first end of the leash associated with a holding means for holding the leash and a second end of the leash, facing away from the first end of the leash, associated with the plug-in part. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) An animal tether with a plug-in lock combination according to claim 10, wherein one of a bite belt and a collar loop is associated with the receiving part at an end facing away from the plug-in part. ### Claim 12 An animal tether plug-in lock comprising: a plug-in part; a receiving part, the plug-in part and the receiving part including cooperating portions to form a positive-locking connection for transmitting a tensile force; and a securing device separate from the positive-locking connection, the securing device including a securing state with the securing device acting between the plug-in part and the receiving part to prevent the plug-in part from being disconnected from the receiving part and a release state releasing the plug-in part and the receiving part to allow the plug-in part to be disconnected from the receiving part, the securing device further comprising an actuating mechanism for changing the securing device from the securing state to the release state. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A plug-in lock in accordance with claim 12, wherein at least one of the securing device and the positive-locking connection is established by an at least partial sliding of the plug-in part into the receiving part. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) A plug-in lock in accordance with claim 12, wherein the plug-in part and the receiving part have at least one of a self-centering and self-securing design under a tensile load. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) A plug-in lock in accordance with claim 12, wherein the plug-in part in the positive-locking connection has an area that is offset inwardly in relation to the receiving part for providing at least one of a depression and an area offset outwardly for providing a raised area. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) A plug-in lock in accordance with claim 12, wherein the securing device has at least one of an elastically and spring mounted first locking element cooperating with one of the plug-in part and the receiving part and a rigid second locking element that is complementary to the first locking element, wherein the first locking element is associated with the plug-in part and the second locking element is associated with the receiving part. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) A plug-in lock in accordance with claim 12, wherein a fastening element is provided within the plug-in part, in an area facing towards the receiving part, for fastening an end of an animal tether. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) A plug-in lock in accordance with claim 12, wherein at least one of the plug-in part and the actuating mechanism has at least one elastically mounted actuating element defining a pressing surface, for detaching the securing device, whereby the actuating element is connected to the first locking element for detaching the securing device. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) A plug-in lock in accordance with claim 12, wherein a ramp is associated with one of the first locking element and the second locking element for leading the first locking element into a position for establishing the securing device as a locking connection.