GB2485206A

GB2485206A - Wearable retraining device for a pet

Info

Publication number: GB2485206A
Application number: GB201018687A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nuala Bowes
Original assignee: DOG S APRON Ltd
Current assignee: DOG S APRON Ltd
Priority date: 2010-11-05
Filing date: 2010-11-05
Publication date: 2012-05-09
Anticipated expiration: 2030-11-05
Also published as: GB2485206B; WO2012059600A1; GB201018687D0

Abstract

A garment 3 which is worn by a person, such as an animal caregiver or groomer (4, fig 2), having restraining means 5 for securing the animal thereto. In use, the garment may be worn so that an animal is able to be held securely so that various grooming or other treatments may be performed on the animal without the animal running away. The garment is portable and foldable, so it can be easily transported with the animal as required. Preferably the garment takes the form of an apron, a jumper or a jacket and the restraining means are located on the front thereof. Preferably the restraining means take the form of adjustable straps 10 formed into loops 11 using appropriate fastening means 12. 13.

Description

I

"A Restraining Device" The present invention relates to a restraining device, and more particularly, a restraining device for an animal, such as a dog.

Animal care and grooming, and particularly dog grooming, is an exacting activity whereby animal caregivers are often required to perform various treatments or procedures on animals, such as brushing, blow drying, administering medicine, coat cutting, nail clipping, bathing with shampoos, ear cleaning and plucking and the like.

However, in order for the effective performance of the treatments by a caregiver the animal must be kept suitably still, which it will be understood can be difficult with animals who may have a natural aversion to receiving a treatment, being groomed or being restrained.

Accordingly, it is very common for an animal to attempt to run away or strike out at a caregiver, especially during grooming. Keeping the animal still and placidly restrained becomes very important when equipment, such as scissors, clipper or other application or grooming tools are being used, since the potential for real injury to the caregiver and/or the animal exists.

Presently, caregivers manage an animal by manually restraining during treatment or grooming, and this involves using one hand to hold the animal in suitable close proximity to the caregiver and the other hand then performs the required treatment. Clearly, this is very unsatisfactory and reduces the effectiveness of the caregiver and as a result the quality of their work, since it will be appreciated that skill and competence is required to apply a treatment to or groom an animal.

It is a therefore an object of the present invention to provide a restraining device which goes at least some way toward overcoming the above problems and/or which will provide the public and/or industry with a useful alternative.

It is acknowledged that the term comprise' may, under varying jurisdictions be provided with either an exclusive or inclusive meaning. For the purpose of this specification, and unless otherwise noted explicitly, the term comprise shall have an inclusive meaning -i.e. that it may be taken to mean an inclusion of not only the listed components it directly references, but also other non-specified components. Accordingly, the term comprise' is to be attributed with as broader interpretation as possible within any given jurisdiction and this rationale should also be used when the terms comprised' and/or comprising' are used.

Further aspects of the present invention will become apparent form the ensuing

description which is given by way of example only.

According to the invention, there is provided a restraining device for an animal comprising: a mounting, and restraining means on the mounting for securing the animal to the mounting.

The present invention thus provides a mounting which has thereon restraining means for securing the animal to the mounting. In use, the mounting may be secured by a caregiver so that the animal is able to be held by the restraining means of the mounting so that various grooming or other treatments may be performed. The use of the present invention will thus prevent the animal from running away.

In another embodiment of the invention, the mounting is a garment wearable by an animal caregiver.

The present invention also provides a garment which may be worn by an animal caregiver, such as a groomer, and the garment has thereon restraining means for securing the animal to the garment. In use, the garment may thus be worn by a caregiver so that the animal is able to be held securely by the restraining means of the garment so that various grooming or other treatments may be performed. The use of the present invention will thus prevent the animal from running away. The present invention is also portable and foldable, so it can be easily transported with the animal as required. Use of such a garment provides a gentle restraining method which allows a caregiver to use both hands to brush, blow dry, clip nails or even administer medicine, without the opportunity for the dog to run away.

Preferably, the garment is an apron.

Alternatively, the garment is a jacket or a pullover.

In another embodiment of the invention, the apron comprises a front sheet of material and the restraining means is located on the front of the apron.

In another embodiment of the invention, the restraining means comprises at least one strap operable to form an adjustable loop. Accordingly, the loop provides an opening through which the animal being groomed is secured.

In another embodiment of the invention, the restraining means comprises at least one fastener operable with the strap to form the loop.

In another embodiment of the invention, the restraining means further comprises at least two fasteners operable with the strap to form the loop.

Preferably, a perimeter of the loop is adjustable by the fastener(s). The perimeter or size of each loop may also be adjusted by appropriate use of the fastener as required or desired to accommodate a variety of different sized animals.

In another embodiment of the invention, the restraining means comprises at least two straps and at least one two fasteners operable with each strap to form a pair of adjustable loops on the apron. In this way the pair of straps may be used to keep the animal in place by, for example, placing one loop around the animal's neck and the other loop around the animal's under belly in front of its back legs.

In another embodiment of the invention, a first end of each strap is secured to the garment by a first fastener and a second end of the strap mounts a receiver of a second fastener.

Preferable, the receiver of the second fastener mates with a connector movable between ends of the strap to form the loop. By adjusting the position of the movable connector along the strap the perimeter of the restraining loop may be adjusted.

Preferably, the strap extends through the first fastener and is adjustable therethrough.

This facilitates adjustment of the drop of the loop on the apron.

In another embodiment of the invention, the first fastener is a buckle. Preferably, the buckle is a cam buckle.

In another embodiment of the invention, the second fastener is a clasp buckle, whereby the connector forms a female portion and the receiver a male portion of the buckle.

Alternatively, the fasteners are hook and loop fasteners.

Preferably, a pocket is provided on the front sheet of the apron.

Detailed Description of the Invention

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. I is a perspective front view of a restraining device according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a photograph of the restraining device shown in Fig. I in use; and Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view showing a restraining means of the restraining device shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, and initially to Figs. I and 2, there is shown a restraining device, indicated generally by the reference numeral I for an animal, which in the instance shown, is a dog 2. Although reference in the following description will be made to use of the present invention for restraining dogs, this should in no way be seen as limiting since the invention may be also used to restrain any of a variety of different animals as required or as desired, such as cats, sheep, goats and the like, and for a variety of different purposes including brushing, blow drying, clipping nails or even administering medicine, without the opportunity for the animal to run away.

The device I comprises a mounting, which is the instance shown is provided by a garment 3 wearable by an animal caregiver 4. In the context of the present invention an animal caregiver will be understood to be a person providing care to an animal, such as an animal groomer or veterinarian surgeon, or other person who may wish to restrain an animal in proximal connection with themselves so as to prevent the animal from running away from them when providing care to the animal. In the instance shown the garment 3 is an apron, but it will be understood that the garment may also be a jacket or a pullover.

Also shown is restraining means, indicated generally by the reference numeral 5, on the garment 3 for securing the animal 2 to the garment 3. In the instance shown, the restraining means 5 is located on a front sheet 6 of the apron 3. Standard apron connections for the animal caregiver wearer, including waist encircling means 7 and neck encircling means 8 for attachment to the body of the wearer are also shown. However, it will be understood that the mounting of the present invention is not limited to a wearable garment in the form of an apron 3, and may be configured as a mat, a sheet or other means suitable for providing a surface capable of supporting thereon the restraining means 5. Accordingly, reference to an apron, or a wearable garment should not be seen as limiting.

The restraining means 5 comprises at least one strap 10 operable to form an adjustable loop, indicated generally by the reference numeral 11. The loop is thus an opening through which the animal being groomed is restrained. The restraining means 5 also comprises fasteners 12, 13 operable with the strap 10 to form the loop 11. In the instance shown however, the restraining means 5 comprises a pair of straps 10 on the front sheet 6 of the apron 5 and fasteners 12, 13 are provided for each strap 10. Accordingly, a pair of spaced apart straps 10 forming a pair of loops 11 are provided at the front of the apron 3.

Referring now to Fig. 3, a first end ba of each strap 10 is secured to the garment 3 by a first fastener 12, which in the instance shown is a cam buckle. A second end lOb of the strap 10 mounts a receiver 14 of the second fastener 13, the receiver 14 adapted to mate with a connector 15 of the second fastener 13. The second fastener 13 may be provided as a clasp buckle, whereby the receiver 14 is a female portion and the connector 15 is a male portion of the buckle. The connector 15 is movable between the cam buckle 12 and the receiver 14 so that by adjusting the position of the receiver 15 along the strap 10 the perimeter of the restraining loop 11 may be adjusted as required or as desired. Similarly, the drop of the loop 11 on the apron 3 is also adjustable up and down by moving the strap end lOa through the cam buckle 12.

A pocket 16 is provided on the front sheet 6 of the apron 3.

The present invention has different modes of use. The apron 3 may be worn as normal with the animal resting on a caregivers lap. Alternatively, the apron 3 may be used in a kneeling or sitting arrangement whereby a caregiver lays the apron 3 on the floor or sofa and kneels or sits on a chest part of the apron 3, thereby using the apron in as a mat.

Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it should be appreciate that additions and/or modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope thereof.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A restraining device for an animal comprising: a garment wearable by a person; and restraining means on the garment for securing the animal to the garment.
2. A restraining device as claimed in Claim 1, in which the garment is an apron, a jacket or a pullover.
3. A restraining device as claimed in Claim I or Claim 2, in which the restraining means is located at a front of the garment.
4. A restraining device as claimed in Claims I to 3, in which the restraining means comprises at least one strap formed into an adjustable loop through which the animal is If) restrained to the garment.

IC')
5. A restraining device as claimed in Claim 4, in which the restraining means further comprises at least one fastener which is operable with the strap to form the adjustable loop.
6. A restraining device as claimed in Claim 4, in which the restraining means further comprises at least two fasteners operable with the strap to form the adjustable loop.
7. A restraining device as claimed in Claim 6, in which a first end of the strap is secured to the front of the garment by a first fastener and a second end of the strap mounts a receiver of a second fastener, the receiver for engaging with a connector which is movable between the first fastener and the second fastener to adjust the perimeter of the loop.
8. A restraining device as claimed in Claims I to 4, in which the restraining means comprises at least two straps and at least two fasteners operable with each strap, and wherein a first end of each strap is secured to the front of the garment by a first fastener and a second end of each strap mounts a receiver of a second fastener, the receiver for engaging with a connector which is movable between the first fastener and the second fastener to adjust the perimeter of each ioop formed by each strap.10. A restraining device as claimed in any one of Claims 7 to Claim 9, in which the first fastener is a cam buckle and the second fastener is a clasp buckle.11. A restraining device as claimed in any one of Claims 7 to 10, in which a drop length of each loop on the garment is adjusted by pulling the strap through the first fastener.12. A restraining device substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings. rLULU c\J