Animal grooming apparatus having improved tethering device

Claim 1

In apparatus for grooming animals having a grooming post arm with an end terminating above a raised work surface, an improved tethering device comprising: a tether formed of a cord having means at one end suitable for use in restraining the animal; and a tether control mounted on the arm, said tether control including; a drum rotatably mounted on the arm so that the arm serves as an axle, said drum having first and second axially spaced flanges lying normal to the drum, said first flange being located adjacent the end of said arm, said second flange being spaced inwardly along the arm from the end and having an exposed planar outer surface, said cord being wrapped and unwrapped on said drum between said flanges for storing and paying out purposes, a generally cup-shaped housing mounted on the arm beyond said second flange, said housing having a base through which the arm extends and presenting a planar surface normal to the arm, said housing including a tubular wall extending parallel to the arm, said housing internally receiving said drum within said tubular wall with said planar outer surface of said second flange contiguous with said planar surface of said base, said wall having a slot therein through which said cord extends, said housing containing means engagable with the arm for restraining rotation of said housing with respect to the arm while permitting axial movement of said housing along the arm, resilient means mounted on said arm exteriorly of, and beyond, said housing and bearing on said housing for urging said housing and drum toward the end of the arm, and means mounted on the end of the arm and engaging said first flange of said drum for moving said drum and housing along the arm away from the end in opposition to the urging of said resilient means for establishing an engagement of the surfaces of said second flange and said housing, said engagement establishing the amount of frictional resistance to rotation exerted by said housing on said drum, said resistance being sufficient to prevent movement of said drum responsive to normal movements of the animal on the raised work surface, but permitting movement of the animal responsive to the weight of the animal falling off the raised work surface for paying out said cord.