Pet Protective Collar

• US 20090056642A1
• Filed: 08/29/2007
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Linda Markfield
• Original Assignee: Linda Markfield
• Inventors: Markfield, Linda
• Granted Patent: US 8,042,494 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 119/850
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 13/006 Protective coverings Elastic soles or covers for hoofs A01L5/00, A01L7/02; for veterinary purposes A61D
• CPC Class Codes: A61D 9/00 Bandages, poultices, compresses specially adapted to veterinary purposes fetlock-joint protecting rings A01K13/00

Abstract

A custom fittable collar for an animal, useful to prevent the animal from contacting injured areas on the body, thus promoting healing of wounds. The collar comprises opposing sheets of flexible material with a resilient material held between them. The resulting collar is rigid enough to resist deformation thus preventing licking or biting of a wound by the animal, but soft enough that the collar is both comfortable to wear, and less likely to catch on other objects, thus improving the safety and wearability of the collar. The collar further comprises a closure assembly adapted for easy placement or removal of the collar. The collar further comprises stitching that creates fold lines to allow the collar to be conveniently folded.

Claims

1. A protective collar effective as a veterinary restraint when fitted on an animal, the protective

collar comprising:

a layered assembly comprising;

a first sheet comprising a flexible substantially non-resilient material having inner and outer arcuate edges extending between a first and second end of the first sheet;

a second sheet comprising a flexible substantially non-resilient material and having a substantially similar shape to that of the first sheet;

a flexible resilient padding layer, forming a generally similar shape to the first and second sheets located between said first and second sheets, such that when assembled the first and second sheets and the padding layer form the layered assembly having an outer arcuate edge and an inner arcuate edge and a first end and a second end;

the first sheet and the second sheet and the padding layer between them being formed into the assembly by securing together the outer arcuate edges and the inner arcuate edges and the first and second ends of the first and second sheets;

a closure, effective to secure the first and second ends of the protective collar, such that when the first and second ends of the protective collar are secured a closed configuration is formed having an inner opening and an outer opening, the inner opening being smaller than the outer opening.

2. The protective collar of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of radial stitching lines at least partially extending between the inner arcuate edge and the outer arcuate edge of the layered assembly, operative to effectively segment the collar into panels, and such that the stitches are further effective as fold lines in order to easily fold the collar for packaging or storage.

3. The protective collar of claim 1 wherein upon securing the closure the collar forms a truncated cone with an inner opening and an outer opening, wherein the inner opening is adapted to fit securely around the neck of the animal, and the outer opening is of sufficient size to prevent the animal fitted with the protective collar from contacting an area of the body intended to be protected.

4. The protective collar of claim 1, wherein the means of securing the first and second sheets to the resilient padding layer comprises laminating or otherwise adhering the resilient padding layer to at least one of the first and second sheets.

5. The protective collar of claim 1, wherein the means of securing the first and second sheets to the resilient padding layer comprises the use of stitching.

6. The protective collar of claim 1, wherein the means of closure comprises the use of hook and loop strips located respectively proximate the first and second ends of the collar.

7. The protective collar of claim 1, further providing a means for identifying the animal upon which the collar is fitted.

8. The protective collar of claim 2, wherein the stitching lines comprise a first radial stitching line approximately centrally of the layered assembly between the first and second ends and second and third radial stitching spaced approximately angularly equally from the first radial stitching line.

9. A method of using a pet protective collar to protect an area comprising:

providing a protective collar as described in claim 1;

applying the protective collar around the neck of an animal and fastening the ends together

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the area to be protected is a wound resulting from a surgical procedure.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the area to be protected is an injury sustained by the animal, said injury being other than a surgical wound.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the area to be protected is a site of placement of a topically applied medicament.