AU2003200588B2

AU2003200588B2 - Dog Harness

Info

Publication number: AU2003200588B2
Application number: AU2003200588A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Ellie Fiona Kim Maire-Claire McKenna
Original assignee: Mckenna Ellie Fiona Kim Maire Claire
Current assignee: Mckenna Ellie Fiona Kim Maire Claire
Priority date: 2003-02-20
Filing date: 2003-02-20
Publication date: 2011-06-16
Anticipated expiration: 2023-02-20
Also published as: AU2011201352A1; AU2003200588A1

Description

P/00/01l Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Invention Title: DOG HARNESS The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 1 This invention relates to a dog harness that is especially useful for walking dogs and restraining dogs within a vehicle. For activities such as walking a dog, or restraining a dog within a vehicle, often a dog collar 5 or a choke chain is used. Neither are satisfactory as there is a risk of injuring the dog if the collar or chain are tugged on. In addition, these devices provide a minimal amount of control. Furthermore, the devices are often used incorrectly and may result in some dogs becoming aggressive. With respect to the restraining of a dog within a car, use of either a collar or choke chain is likely to result in serious injury to the dog in the case of an accident. 10 It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a dog collar which will obviate or minimise the foregoing disadvantages in a simple yet effective manner or which will at least provide the public with a useful choice. Accordingly the invention consists in an adjustable harness comprising, a breast plate having a bottom attachment point and a pair of side attachment points, a rib cage strap, a lead 15 attachment ring, first connecting straps connecting each side attachment point to the rib cage strap, a second connecting strap connecting the bottom attachment point to the rib cage strap, first adjustment means to allow the distance between the side attachment points and the lead attachment ring to be varied, and second adjustment means to allow distance between the side attachment points and the rib cage strap to be varied. 20 Preferably in use the breast plate is positioned over an acupressure point over the sternum of a dog. Preferably the harness is padded. Preferably the adjustable harness can be fitted without placing the harness over the animal's head or requiring the animal to step into the harness. 25 Preferably the harness is available in different sizes and is washable and substantially rustproof. To those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves 106002asnec au fD3 dneJCW/ht 2 without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The disclosures and the description herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting. One preferred form of the invention will now be described with reference to the 5 accompanying drawings in which, FIGURE 1 is a view of a dog harness according to one preferred form of the invention, and FIGURE 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of the harness of Figure 1 in use on a dog. A harness 1 is provided which includes a breast plate 2. The breast plate 2 is desirably formed of a material which gives sufficient strength for the purpose but which also is padded 10 at least on the inner surface which will be positioned against the dog's breast in use. To this end the inner surface may be provided with, for example, a neoprene layer. A rib cage strap 3 extends from the breast plate 2 which may be substantially triangular in outline. The strap is made from any suitable sufficiently strong material. To this end the breast plate 2 has a pair of side attachment points 4 and a bottom attachment point 5 to which the rib cage strap 3 15 is connected through a connecting strap 6 between the rib cage strap 3 and the bottom attachment point 5. If desired the strap 6 may be made adjustable, although it is not shown as such in the drawing. In a preferred form the rib cage strap 3 also includes a padding material such as neoprene, shown at 7, in the area where it will rest against the dog's rib cage. 20 A pair of first connecting straps 8 are provided which connect the side attachment points 4 to the rib cage strap 3. The connection is preferably through a connector 9. The strap 3, preferably at each end, and the first connecting straps 8 are preferably adjustable in length being provided with a length adjustment mechanism 10 and 11 each being formed, for example, as part of the connector 9. A suitable "tie down" buckle 12 may be provided to 25 hold the loose ends of the respective straps 3 and 8. Accordingly the breast plate 2, part of the rib cage strap 3, the connecting straps 8 and the buckle 9 provide a periphery for an opening 16 provided on each side of the construction. From the connectors 9 also extend straps 20 each of which includes a part 21 a and 21 b of a connector and also extending from the connector 9 is a lead attachment ring, in this case a 3 lead attachment ring is shown extending from each connector 9 so that there are a pair of rings 23 provided on a strap 24 which is connected to the connector 9. The harness is made in a range of sizes (such as three sizes) to accommodate different sizes of dog. Also washable and rustproof parts are desirable. 5 In use, in the preferred form, the harness, is assembled as shown in Figure 1 and a dog 30 places its front legs 31, through the spaces 16. The clip connector parts 21a and 21b are engaged one with the other so that the two lead attachment means 23 are positioned side by side, substantially as shown in Figure 2. The parts of the construction should be sufficiently robust to withstand the forces thereon in vehicle accidents at least at "around town" speeds. 10 Alternatively the harness can be fitted without requiring the dog to step into the harness if at least one set of the adjustable straps are connected after the harness is positioned on the dog. In use the adjustments are then adjusted so as to most comfortably fit the dog, and a lead can be attached to the lead attachment rings 23. Desirably the breast plate fits over the sternum of the dog. 15 Alternatively the dog may be secured within a vehicle by attaching the harness to a seat belt either by passing part of the seat belt through an appropriate strap or providing a separate unit in the form of a short lead which can be clipped at one end to the lead attachment rings, passed around the seat belt and clipped back again to the lead attachment rings. Thus it can be seen that at least in the preferred form of the invention a dog harness is 20 provided which is readily assembled and arranged for use and which can be simply connected, for example, to a lead or a seat belt in a vehicle. Use of the harness prevents pulling or choking actions on the neck of the dog and I have found that the breast plate pressure tends to have a calming influence on a dog if the lead, for example, is pulled in use. 25 Througout the description and claims of this specification the word "comprise" and variations of that word, such as "comprises" and "comprising", are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps. 1v w - -KO cnno fmY A /-17/k1.

Claims

2. An adjustable dog harness as claimed in claim 1 wherein the harness is padded.
3. An adjustable dog harness as claimed in either claim I or claim 2 that can be fitted without placing the harness over the dog's head or requiring the dog to step into the harness. -5
4. An adjustable dog harness as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the harness is available in different sizes and is washable and substantially rustproof.
5. An adjustable dog harness substantially as herein described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. ELLIE FIONA KIM MAIRE-CLAIRE McKENNA By her attorneys PIPERS 18 March 2011.