Dog exercising device

DISCUSSION OF THE INVENTION

This invention is directed to a dog tethering structure which positions the dog alongside the bicycle in a position where the animal is under control of the vehicle and prevents the dog from running into the vehicle or running off sidewise, endangering the rider.

The invention comprehends providing a novel attachment which is easy to apply and remove and which has an adjustable tether for different size animals.

The invention contemplates in addition to a resilient mounting for the stand-off bar, a releasable securing latch which yieldably resists normal tugging by the dog and which releases if the dog should suddenly lurch with great force such as might endanger the bicycle rider.

These and other objects inherent in and encompassed by the invention will become more apparent from the specification and the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an adult tricycle with the invention applied thereto;

FIG. 2 is a plan view;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the frame and bar assembly;

FIG. 4 is a cross-section of FIG. 4 taken substantially on line 4--4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the invention showing a dual harness arrangement;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the structure of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a mounting assembly for a single bar bicycle; and

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the structure of FIG. 7 showing its attachment to a single bar bicycle frame.

DESCRIPTION OF FIGS. 1-4

The invention is shown in association with a vehicle generally designated 2 which is preferably an adult tricycle having a pair of spaced rear wheels 3,3, a front steerable wheel 4, and an intervening frame 5 which in the present instance comprises a double bar 6,6 which extends between the fork sleeve 8 and the vertical seat column 9.

The exerciser attachment 10 comprises a clamp assembly 12 at its inner end 14, having a pair of jaw members 16,18 which have opposing arcuate notches 20,20 for complementally embracing the intervening vehicle frame members 6,6. A yieldable elastomeric cushion or sleeves 19,19 are compressed between the frame and the clamp and adapted to yield upon the imposition of an unexpected or sudden pull on the tether. The clamp elements are secured above and below the frame by a pair of bolts 22,22 which are adjustably threaded through openings 23,23 in member 16 into threaded apertures 24,24 in member 18.

A stand-off bar or reach 25 is provided at its inner end 26 with a threaded bolt 27 having a hexagonal head 128, the bolt 27 being threaded into a threaded aperture 29 in the clamp member 16 intermediate its top and bottom ends.

The distal end 30 of the bar also is provided with a double-ended bolt 32 which has an inner end portion 33 threaded into an axial bore 34 in the outer end 30 of the bar. The bolt 32 is provided with a hexagonal wrench engaging nut portion 35 intermediate its ends, and the outer end portion 36 is welded at 37 to the side of a guide sleeve 38, which has a chain guide aperture 39 in its upper side through which extends a link chain 40 which is threaded through the axial bore 42 in the sleeve and extends either through a lower aperture 43 or to the rear thereof with a pendant portion 44, which has a snap hook 45 or other fastener at its free end 46.

The hook is adapted to be snapped on the collar 47 of the animal which is held away from the vehicle by the reach.

The inner end of the chain 40 has one of its links 48 skewed over an upright peg 50 fixed to the reach intermediate its ends. The length of the chain depending below the reach is adjusted for the size of the dog. Preferably the pin may be of resilient material such as spring steel which is adapted to deflect when the chain is pulled inordinately hard, thus providing an automatic tug or pull release. The chain in being drawn through the guide 38 will be somewhat restrained and thus control the dog.

EMBODIMENT OF FIGS. 5 AND 6

In this embodiment parts identical with those previously disclosed are identified with the same reference numerals. In this embodiment a whiffle-tree 75 is provided comprising a V-shaped bar 76 at the apex 77 of which there is provided a bolt and nut assembly 78 which secures the tree to the guide sleeve 38 via bottom aperture 43 therein. The single-tree 75 is provided with chain loops 80,80 at its outer end, which serve as fasteners for a pair of hooks 81,81 to which the collars of two dogs side by side are adapted to be secured.

EMBODIMENT OF FIGS. 7 AND 8

In this embodiment the inner clamp assembly 100 is modified to attach to a boy's bicycle and has a base block 102 to which the bolt 26 is threaded in bore 29. V-shaped upper and forward clamps 103,104 are secured to the top and front sides 105,105 of the square block and are respectively adapted to clamp about the compression bar 107, and front fork sleeve 108 of the bicycle frame. Rubber or elastomer pads (not shown) such as 19,19 are preferably interposed between the clamp jaws 103,104 and the respective frame elements, the jaws being drawn about these frame elements by nuts and bolts 112,112 associated therewith.