GB1579800A - Coat for four-legged animals - Google Patents

Description

(54) COAT FOR FOUR-LEGGED ANIMALS (71) We, PATRICIA ROSE HACKERS and TERENCE MARSHLAND HACKERS, both British Subjects, and both of 33 Jerningham Court, Ommaney Road, London, S.E.14., do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The present invention relates to a coat for a dog or other pet animal.

More particularly it provides a coat for a dog or other pet animal, comprising a body panel dimensioned to lie along the back of the animal and to extend down its sides and having at one end a head aperture, extending forwardly from the head aperture a chest panel terminating in left and right tabs for passing under the fore-legs of the animal, and means on either side of said body panel and on or in the tabs for fastening respective tabs to the body panel.

The material from which the coat is made may be woven, knitted or a thin non-woven felted or melded material. For winter wear a knitted woollen coat may be desirable. For rain-wear the coat may be of woven polyurethane coated nylon which may carry reflective tapes. The head aperture is preferably provided with a close-fitting collar of knitted material.

Various embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view from above of a dog-coat; Figure 2 is a side view of the coat of Figure 1 fastened in the way in which it is fitted to a dog; Figure 3 is a plan view from above of a second dog-coat; Figure 4 is a side view like Figure 2 showing the dog-coat of Figure 3 fastened as it is fitted to the dog; and Figure 5 is a detail about the lead hole in one possible embodiment.

In Figure 1, a dog-coat comprises textile material e.g. water-proofed nylon which is cut to define a body panel 10, which is dimensioned to extend along the back and down a major portion of the sides of a dog of a selected breed e.g. a chihuahua, adjacent one end of which is an aperture 11 intended to be passed over the head of the dog.

Extending forwardly from the aperture 11 is a relatively narrow chest panel 12 and first and second fastening tabs 13 and 14. The top surface of the body panel 10 has to either side appropriately~ positioned "Velcro" (Regis tered Trade Mark) strips 15 which may be registered with complimentary Velcro strips 16 on the undersurface of the fastening tabs 13 and 14. Extending from the aperture 11 is a collar 18 which is preferably of knitted material which is slightly resilient so as to fit closely against the neck of the dog. If the knitted material is insufficiently resilient, a "Spandex" (Registered Trade Mark) or similar yarn may be incorporated therein to impart improved stretch properties thereto.

In the body panel 10 just to the rear of the aperture 11 is a hole 20 through which a lead may be inserted for attachment to the collar of the dog. The top surface of the garment may be provided with regions 22 of reflective tape.

In use, the dog's head is passed through the aperture 11 and the body panel 12 is centralised along his back, after which the chest panel is folded down and the fastening tabs 13 and 14 are passed rearwardly underneath his fore-legs and secured to resPeCtive sides of the body panel 10 to define leg openings 24. It will be appreciated that in this way the coat is held securely to the dog.

The embodiment shown in Figures 3 and 4 is generally similar to that described previously except the collar 30 is detachable and is removably secured to the opening 11 by means of press-studs 32. Instead of the "Velcro" fastenings, toggles 34 sewn onto the body panel 10 can be passed through button-holes 36 in the fastening tabs 13 and 14 to secure them in correct position to the body.

Various modifications may, of course, be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the invention. For example, where the dog wears a harness rather than a collar, somewhat greater tolerance of lead movement is desirably provided.

This may be achieved by means of an enlarged lead hole closed by means of first and second generally circular flaps 41, 42 with their inner ends 43, 43a overlapping and circular cut-outs 44 to centralise the lead in its normal position, as shown in Figure 5. If desired, the body panel 10 may be additionally secured by a strap running underneath the dog in a position intermediate its front and rear legs.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A coat for a dog or other pet animal, comprising a body panel dimensioned to lie along the back of the animal and to extend down its sides and having at one end a head aperture, extending forwardly from the head aperture a chest panel terminating in left and right tabs for passing under the fore-legs of the animal, and means on either side of said body panel and on or in the tabs for fastening respective tabs to the body panel.

2. A coat according to Claim 1, wherein the head aperture is provided with a closefitting collar of knitted material.

3. A coat according to Claim 2, wherein the collar is removable.

4. A coat according to any preceding claim, made of water repellent material.

5. A coat according to Claim 4, wherein the water-repellent material is woven polyurethane coated nylon.

6. A coat for a dog or other pet animal substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

7. A coat for a dog or other pet animal substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (7)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. means of press-studs 32. Instead of the "Velcro" fastenings, toggles 34 sewn onto the body panel 10 can be passed through button-holes 36 in the fastening tabs 13 and 14 to secure them in correct position to the body. Various modifications may, of course, be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the invention. For example, where the dog wears a harness rather than a collar, somewhat greater tolerance of lead movement is desirably provided. This may be achieved by means of an enlarged lead hole closed by means of first and second generally circular flaps 41, 42 with their inner ends 43, 43a overlapping and circular cut-outs 44 to centralise the lead in its normal position, as shown in Figure 5. If desired, the body panel 10 may be additionally secured by a strap running underneath the dog in a position intermediate its front and rear legs. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A coat for a dog or other pet animal, comprising a body panel dimensioned to lie along the back of the animal and to extend down its sides and having at one end a head aperture, extending forwardly from the head aperture a chest panel terminating in left and right tabs for passing under the fore-legs of the animal, and means on either side of said body panel and on or in the tabs for fastening respective tabs to the body panel.

2. A coat according to Claim 1, wherein the head aperture is provided with a closefitting collar of knitted material.

3. A coat according to Claim 2, wherein the collar is removable.

4. A coat according to any preceding claim, made of water repellent material.

5. A coat according to Claim 4, wherein the water-repellent material is woven polyurethane coated nylon.

6. A coat for a dog or other pet animal substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

7. A coat for a dog or other pet animal substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.