Retractable dog leash

Claim 1

A retractable dog leash comprising a housing elongated in a longitudinal direction; an aperture at one end of said housing communicating from the interior to the exterior of said housing; a reel journalled within said housing for rotation about an axis generally perpendicular to said longitudinal direction; a cord wound about said reel and having a free end passing through said aperture; means on the free end of said cord for attaching said cord to a dog collar; first spring means coupled to said reel for torqueing said reel in a direction for winding said cord thereon; a ratchet wheel coupled fixedly to said reel coaxial therewith, said ratchet wheel having a plurality of recesses about its periphery; an elongated longitudinally directed member mounted slideably within said housing radially of said ratchet wheel, said elongated member having an end facing said ratchet wheel configured for engagement with one of said recesses for blocking rotation of said reel; second spring means for urging said elongated member into engagement with said ratchet wheel; a longitudinally elongated slot in a side of said housing; and a shaft projecting perpendicularly and fixedly from said elongated member and through said slot to enable moving said elongated member out of engagement with said ratchet wheel.