# US 5,706,764 A · Animal training assist apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,706,764 A - Document ID: US5706764A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/732,110 - Filed: 1996-10-15 - Granted: 1998-01-13 - Earliest claimed: 1996-10-15 - Inventors: Heather Irbinskas - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5706764A ## CPC - A01K 27/005: {Quick-couplings, safety-couplings or shock-absorbing devices between leash and collar} - A01K: ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS ## Abstract A dog or animal training apparatus which assists in absorbing and transferring the animal's energy so that the full impact is not felt by the trainer/handler. The apparatus provides an elastic member which is connected between the leash/lead and the animal's collar. If the animal leans into the leash, the elastic member pulls back on the collar to bring the animal back into line. Should the animal bolt or jump, the elastic member elongates to keep the immediacy of the impact from being transferred to the trainer/handler and to redirect some of the impact back to the animal to pull the animal into proper position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An animal control apparatus comprising: a) a collar for encircling a neck of an animal; b) a lead adapted to be grasped by a handler; c) an elastic member connecting said lead to said collar, said elastic member adapted to elongate under a stretching force and exerting a contraction force tending to forcibly retract said elastic member to a relaxed length; and, d) means for adjusting a length of said elastic member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The animal control apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said contraction force is less than one-fifth of a weight of the animal. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The animal control apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said elastic member is adapted to elongate less than twenty-five percent of a relaxed length of said elastic member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The animal control apparatus according to claim 3: a) wherein said collar includes a ring; b) wherein said lead includes a snap attachment; and, c) wherein said elastic member has a ring attachment secured to a first end and a snap attachment secured to an opposing second end. ### Claim 5 An animal control apparatus comprising: a) a collar for encircling a neck of an animal; b) a lead adapted to be grasped by a handler; and c) an elastic member connecting said lead to said collar, said elastic member adapted to elongate under a stretching force and exerting a contraction force tending to forcibly retract said elastic member to a relaxed length and including: 1) a first ring secured to a first end of said elastic member, 2) a second ring secured to a second end of said elastic member, and 3) a snap attachment slideably secured to a mid-portion of said elastic member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The animal control apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said lead includes: a) a first end adapted to be grasped by the user; and, b) a second end having a snap connector connected thereto and adapted to be selectively secured to said first ring and the second ring of said elastic member. ### Claim 7 A dog control apparatus comprising: a) a collar for encircling a neck of a dog having a first end, said collar adapted to tighten around the neck of said dog when a pulling force is applied to the first end of said collar; b) a leash having a first end and a second end, the first end of said leash having a handle portion adapted to be grasped by a handler; and, c) an elastic member having at least two parallel elastic strands, each of said elastic strands having a first end connected to the second end of said leash and a second end connected to the first end of said collar, said elastic member adapted to elongate under a stretching force and exerting a contraction force tending to forcibly retract said elastic member to a relaxed length. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The dog control apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said contracting force of said elastic member is less than one-fifth of a weight of the dog and said elastic member is adapted to elongate less than thirty percent of a relaxed length of said elastic member. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The dog control apparatus according to claim 8: a) wherein said collar includes a ring on the first end thereof; b) wherein said leash includes the snap attachment on a second end thereof; and, c) wherein said elastic member has a ring attachment on the first end thereof and a snap attachment secured to the second end of said elastic member. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The dog control apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said elastic member further includes means for adjusting a length of said elastic member. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The dog control apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said elastic member includes means for adjusting said contracting force. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The dog control apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said elastic member includes: a) a first ring secured to a first end of said elastic member; b) a second ring secured to a second end of said elastic member; and, c) a snap attachment slideably secured to a mid-portion of said elastic member. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The dog control apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said leash includes: a) said first end adapted to be grasped by the user; and, b) a second end having a snap connector connected thereto and adapted to be selectively secured to said first ring and the second ring of said elastic member. ### Claim 14 (depends on 7) The dog control apparatus according to claim 7 further including: a) a second collar for encircling a neck of a second dog having a first end, said second collar adapted to tighten around the neck of said second dog when a pulling force is applied to the first end of said collar; and, b) a second elastic member having a first end connected to the second end of said leash and a second end connected to the first end of the second collar, said second elastic member adapted to elongate under a stretching force and exerting a contraction force tending to forcibly retract said second elastic member to a relaxed length. ### Claim 15 A kit for use in dog training comprising: a) a leash having a first end and a second end, the first end of said leash having a handle portion adapted to be grasped by a handler; and, b) an elastic member having at least two elastic strands, each of said elastic strands having a first end connectable to the second end of said leash and a second end connectable to a dog collar, said elastic member adapted to elongate under a stretching force and exerting a contraction force tending to forcibly retract said elastic member to a relaxed length.