Abstract:
A sleeve which has two reflective sides is adapted for safety purposes and may function as an identifier. The surfaces may be formed in strips which have a luminous tint. The sleeve is adapted for usage with numerous objects such as pet collars, hats and canes.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/964,346 filed Aug. 10, 2007. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE TECHNOLOGY 
       [0002]    This application relates generally to reflective devices and materials which are adapted to attach individuals, pets or objects to reflect light for safety purposes under low light conditions. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0003]      FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of an identifier sleeve; 
           [0004]      FIG. 2  is a frontal perspective view of a pet collar employing the identifier sleeve of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0005]      FIG. 3  is a frontal view of an embodiment of an identifier sleeve; 
           [0006]      FIG. 4  is the opposite side view of the identifier of  FIG. 3 ; and 
           [0007]      FIG. 5  is a fragmentary perspective view of a suitcase, which employs the article identifier of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 6  is a side view of an ultra-reflective sleeve suitable for numerous applications; 
           [0009]      FIG. 7  is a side view of an ultra-reflective sleeve which has a different dimension; 
           [0010]      FIG. 8  is an exaggerated, enlarged, sectional view illustrating the cross-section of the sleeves in  FIGS. 6 and 7 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 9  illustrates one application of a sleeve of  FIG. 7  in connection with mounting to the straps of a hat; 
           [0012]      FIG. 10  illustrates a hat with the mounted sleeve as worn by an individual from the rear of the head of the individual; 
           [0013]      FIG. 11  illustrates another application of ultra-reflective belt-like sleeve as worn by a jogger; 
           [0014]      FIG. 12  illustrates use of a pair of reflective sleeves for a dog collar and a connected leash as attached to a dog; 
           [0015]      FIG. 13  is a side elevational view, partly broken away partly in phantom and partly in diagram form, illustrating an application wherein an ultra-reflective sleeve may be installed on a cane; 
           [0016]      FIG. 14  is a side elevational view of a representative kick stand for a bicycle or the like to which an ultra-reflective sleeve has been mounted. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]    With reference to the drawings, wherein like numerals represent like parts throughout the Figures, a new and improved pet collar is generally designated by the numeral  10 . The collar  10  may be of conventional form and function having a strap  12 , which is either formed of an elastomeric material and/or includes a buckle  14 , a hook and loop fabric fastener, such as Velcro, or other similar fastening device. 
         [0018]    An identifier sleeve  20  is slid over the collar strap  12 . The identifier sleeve  20  is formed of a reflective material. The sleeve  20  may be affixed with identifying information, such as a name. 
         [0019]    The principal function of the reflective pet collar is to aid in the identification or determination of the location of a pet. As an auxiliary function, the collar functions as a warning device which will allow the pet to be easily located along the side of a roadway or other place where a pet could be in danger. Accordingly, the collar will also function as a safety device. 
         [0020]    There are also additional applications. For example, the sleeve could also be slid over a belt, a shoulder strap, a band of a hat, a strap of a cap, or a luggage handle as in  FIG. 5 , or other various items to provide the same identification or warnings functions. In one application of the invention, the protective sleeve, which is placed on a pet such as a cat or dog, also has a corresponding complementary sleeve, which is worn by the owner. 
         [0021]    The sleeve  20  has a full continuous circumferential type structure. Alternatively, a sleeve  30  may have a slit  32  or merely contain one or more retaining flanges  34  at one side thereof as illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . The slit may be sealed using such things as snap buttons, zippers, fiber hook and loop fasteners, or the like. 
         [0022]    A safety sleeve  100  which has a pair of highly reflective or ultra reflective surfaces is illustrated in  FIG. 6 . The sleeve  100  is initially formed from fabric. The fabric is preferably 100% polyester knit. The fabric is typically cut into two different widths: 4⅜ inches or 3⅜ inches. In one embodiment, the cut goods are folded in half and stitched on an end so that they are finished in approximately 2 inches and 1½ inch wide opposed strips  110  and  120  to form the sleeves. Each of the strips has a luminous striking tint, such as a bright yellow or orange. 
         [0023]    In an alternate manufacturing process, the strips  110  and  120  are ultrasonically joined instead of with a sewing thread. 
         [0024]    A strip  130 ,  140  of ⅝ inch  3 M product No. 8710 reflective material is laminated to each side  110 ,  120  of the product. The sleeves are cut to the requested length. For example sleeve  100 A has a shorter length. A specification sheet for the reflective material is set forth in the attached Table A. 
         [0025]    The sleeves may be employed for a wide variety of applications. For example sleeve  100 A is attached to straps  202 ,  204  of a hat  200 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 9-10 . 
         [0026]    As illustrated in  FIG. 11  an ultra-reflective sleeve  100  B in belt-like form may be formed from stretch material and worn around the waist or other parts of the body to provide a reflective surface or a reflective strip for joggers, walkers and bicyclers, for instance. 
         [0027]    The sleeves  100  may be slid over and or used with a leash collar  302  and leash  304  for a dog or pet as illustrated in  FIG. 12 . 
         [0028]    In another safety use of the ultra-reflective sleeve  100 , a rubber end cap  402  is removed from a cane  400  and the sleeve  100  is slidably pulled over the end of the cane and the end cap is replaced such as illustrated in  FIG. 13 . 
         [0029]    A sleeve  100  may also be slidably mounted to the kick stand  500 , a bicycle or the like as illustrated in  FIG. 14 .