PET BLANKET

Abstract: Pet blanket comprising two layers of material adapted to form a selectively closeable pocket, one layer being made from permeable material, the other being of an impermeable material, the blanket further comprising at least one insert for selective insertion into said pocket, said insert being of an absorbent material, the insert having been pre-treated with an emollient ester mixture containing at least one anti-flea agent, the nature of the material being adapted for optimum dispersal of the anti-flea active ingredients throughout the insert such that in use the permeable layer on contact with the animal subjects the animal to the activity of the anti flea agent.

Description: PET BLANKET This invention relates to blankets for animals and in particular to pet blankets having anti flea repellent properties. Flea infestation of animals can be both very troublesome to the animals suffering therefrom and also to any other animals or humans coming into contact therewith. If flea infestations are left untreated they can lead to substantial hair loss and irritation of the skin of the affected animal. If particularly prevalent or left untreated for a long period of time such infestations can lead to anaemia or even death of the animal through blood loss and subsequent weakness to the animal caused by the parasitic nature of the fleas. Treatment of infested animals varies but generally they are treated by flea sprays or powders. The disadvantage of this is that they have to be applied in a well ventilated area as the active ingredients can cause irritation to the eyes or respiratory tract of the human user. Further, the treatments often have to be repeated each time the fleas reappear which can mean treatment at weekly intervals. However, such sprays and powders cannot be used on sick and convalescing animals as it could be detrimental to their health. It is therefore necessary for such animals to be treated only by a veterinary surgeon which can lead the animal owner to further added expense. In young and nursing mothers, in order not to adversely affect the unborn or newly born young, the fleas should be removed by a use of a flea comb. It is easier for the animal owners to try to prevent infestations rather than treat them as flea infestations lead to household soft furnishings and carpets also being affected. These have to be regularly treated with a suitable insecticide and subsequently vacuumed in order to prevent infestation by the fleas brought into the house by their animals. Such measures are laborious and time consuming especially if several rooms in the house have to be attended to in such a way. Other preventative measures include treating the animal's bedding and basket with a suitable insecticide. This of course has to be reapplied frequently in order for it to remain effective. It also has to be reapplied each time the bedding is washed. Again this is rather laborious and many owners forget to do so. Flea collars can also be used but have limited success. Further, particularly in cats, these collars often become slack through use and can cause injury due to the animal's front leg becoming caught therethrough. This can lead to substantial injuries to the cat such as burns or tears in the skin under the trapped front leg. These can be particularly common injuries where the owner does not buy new flea collars regularly and it becomes stretched with use. An object of the present invention is to provide a pet blanket having anti flea properties which obviates or mitigates the aforesaid disadvantages of the prior art. According to the present invention there is provided a pet blanket comprising two layers of material adapted to form a selectively closeable pocket, one layer being made from permeable material, the other being of an impermeable material, the blanket further comprising at least one insert for selective insertion into said pocket, said insert being of an absorbent material, the insert having been pre-treated with an emollient ester mixture containing at least one anti-flea agent, the nature of the material being adapted for optimum dispersal of the anti-flea active ingredients throughout the insert such that in use the permeable layer on contact with the animal subjects the animal to the activity of the anti flea agent. Preferably the layers provide the pocket with an upper and lower surface. Preferably the upper surface is permeable. Whilst advantageously the upper surface is made from a warm and comfortable material for contact with the animal lying thereon. Further the lower surface is preferably a waterproof material for contact with the ground or basket. The material can be plastic laminate or plastic coated material such as cotton or nylon. More preferably PNC coated nylon is used. Preferably the insert is impregnated with at least one anti flea agent but more preferably a combination is used. The anti flea agents may comprise long or short acting anti flea regulators. These can comprise insect growth regulators such as methoprene either alone or in combination with adulticides such as a methoprene/ permethrin combination. The insert suitably comprises a section of suitably open celled or absorbent material such that in use the material provides a reservoir of active components. The material can be any open cell foam or absorbent matting such as cellulose(natural) or polyester (synthetic) mesh. The invention will now be described in greater detail below. In accordance with the present invention there is provided a animal or pet blanket having anti flea repellent properties wherein the Pet blanket comprises layers of substantially rectangular material having four edges, although any shape may be used. It should be noted that the term anti flea agents comprises compounds having either flea repellent properties or those which kill the fleas completely. Generally the blanket is fo ~ med from two layers of material, having an upper and lower surface respectively. The two layers are formed from different materials but are of similar dimensions to each other. The upper surface is the surface which is intended to contact the animal when the blanket is in use. As such that surface is required to be made of a suitably warm and comfortable permeable material such as wool, synthetic wool or fleece type material in order to encourage the animal to lie or sleep on the blanket. The lower and upper surfaces are attached to each other preferably by three corresponding edges. The fourth corresponding edges may be unattached to leave an opening or may be partially attached to form a central opening therein. The central opening is of marginally smaller dimensions than the length of the side and as such the joined surfaces form a flexible container or pocket. The opening can be selectively closed by the provision of suitable releasable fixing means such as hooks etc. The lower surface is made from an impermeable and preferably waterproof material. The lower surface acts as the base of the blanket such that it contacts the floor or basket when the blanket is in use. The lower surface can be made from any suitable impermeable material but generally is a plastic laminate, plastic coated cotton or nylon, or PVC coated nylon. Through the opening in the flexible container is inserted an insert of similar dimensions to that of the container layers. The insert is made from suitably open celled and/ or absorbent material such as open celled foam, polyurethane foam or absorbent matting such as cellulose (natural) or polyester (synthetic) mesh. Due to the opening of the container or pocket being of marginally less dimensions than the insert itself the insert should be adapted to flex in order that it may be inserted through such a smaller opening. This provides that the insert once having returned to its usually unflexed form will be unable to readily pass through the opening and thereby prevents the insert from falling out unless when physically removed by the user who has to flex the sheet in order to remove it. The insert is impregnated with anti flea agents and/ or flea repellent agents. This can be carried out by various standard techniques which will be well known by those skilled in the art. Generally however it is achieved by mixing the active anti flea agents with an emollient ester mixture which is sprayed onto the insert. Due to the open celled or absorbent nature of the insert, dispersal of the active ingredients throughout the foam insert occurs. The anti flea agents can be any suitable anti flea regulators. Generally these can comprise insect growth regulators such as methoprene either alone or in combination with adulticides such as a methoprene/ permethrin combination. Other anti flea agents which can be used in this invention either alone or in combination include: Fipronil, Lufenuron, Imidacloprid, Pyriproxyfen, Diflubenzuron, Telflubenzuron, Triflumuron, Flufenoxuron, Hexaflumuron, Buprofezin, Pyrethrum, Pyrethrin, Pyrethroids, Carbamates. It is also envisaged that this system will provided a slow release of anti flea agents where release is dependent on the use of the blanket which in turn will provide increased duration of activity of anti flea agents (i.e. long acting). It is anticipated that the insert would have to be replaced every six months. The layers of material and insert must have sufficient dimensions to provide blanket of approximately 45cm x 60cm, although any suitable size can be used. The size of material for use in cat blankets is usually smaller than that for dogs and is generally in the region of 45cm x 45cm. In use of the blanket, anti flea agents diffuse from the insert through the permeable layer of the blanket and onto the animal, thus irradicating the flea population with either immediate effect in the case of an adulticide or over time in the case of an insect growth regulator (inhibits the life cycle of the insect thereby interrupting proliferation) . The advantage of the present invention is that the impregnated insert can be removed so that the blanket can be washed without diluting the effect of the anti flea agents. The use of the permeable upper layer allows the repellent to diffuse therethrough to contact the animals whilst the waterproof layer prevents loss of the repellent on the ground or basket. Further, more than one insert can be used with the same blanket i.e. the shelf life of the insert being determined by the depletion of the actives through the permeable upper layer. It is anticipated that the insert could be sold as a separate entity. Also every time the animal lies down on the blanket it receives a dose of anti flea agent.

Claims: Claims 1. Pet blanket comprising two layers of material adapted to form a selectively closeable pocket, one layer being made from permeable material, the other being of an impermeable material, the blanket further comprising at least one insert for selective insertion into said pocket, said insert being of an absorbent material, the insert having been pre-treated with an emollient ester mixture containing at least one anti-flea agent, the nature of the material being adapted for optimum dispersal of the anti-flea active ingredients throughout the insert such that in use the permeable layer on contact with the animal subjects the animal to the activity of the anti flea agent. 2. Pet blanket according to claim 1 wherein the layers provide the pocket with an upper and lower surface. 3. Pet blanket according to claim 2 wherein the upper surface is permeable. 4. Pet blanket according to claim 3 wherein the upper surface is made from a warm and comfortable material for contact with the animal lying thereon. 5. Pet blanket according to claim 2 wherein the lower surface is a waterproof material. 6. Pet blanket according to claim 5 wherein the material is selected from the group consisting of plastic laminate, plastic coated cotton, plastic coated nylon or PNC coated nylon. 7. Pet blanket according to claim 1 wherein the emollient mixture comprises a combination of anti flea agents. 8. Pet blanket according to claim 7 wherein the anti flea agents comprise long or short acting anti flea agents. 9. Pet blanket according to claim 8 wherein the anti flea agents comprise insect growth regulators. 10. Pet blanket according to claim 9 wherein the insect growth regulator is methoprene. 1 1. Pet blanket according to claim 8 wherein the anti flea agents comprise adulticides. 12. Pet blanket according to claim 1 1 wherein the adulticide is permethrin. 13. Pet blanket according to claims 7- 12 wherein the anti flea agents comprise a combination of an insect growth regulator and adulticide. 14. Pet blanket according to claim 13 wherein the combination is a methoprene/ permethrin combination 15. Pet blanket according to claims 1- 14 wherein the insert comprises a section of material adapted to provide a reservoir for the anti flea agents. 16. Pet blanket according to claim 15 wherein the material is an open cell foam. 17. Pet blanket according to claim 16 wherein the open celled foam is polyurethane foam 18. Pet blanket according to claim 16 wherein the material is an absorbent matting. 19. Pet blanket according to claim 19 wherein the absorbent material is a natural cellulose. 20. Pet blanket according to claim 19 wherein the absorbent material is a synthetic polyester mesh. 21. Pet blanket according to any one of claims 1-20 wherein the anti flea agents can be chosen form the group consisting of Fipronil, Lufenuron, Imidacloprid, Pyriproxyfen, Diflubenzuron, Telflubenzuron, Triflumuron, Flufenoxuron, Hexaflumuron, Buprofezin, Pyrethrum, Pyrethrin, Pyrethroids, Carbamates. 22. An impregnated insert for use in the pet blanket of any one of claims 1-21. 23. An insert for impregnation and subsequent use in the pet blanket of any of claim 1-21. 24. Pet blanket as herein described.

Inventors: BLAKELY WILLIAM, CROMIE LILLIAN, DUFFY SEAN, BLAKELY, WILLIAM, CROMIE, LILLIAN, DUFFY, SEAN
Applicants: BLAKELY WILLIAM, CROMIE LILLIAN, DUFFY SEAN, NORBROOK LAB LTD, BLAKELY, WILLIAM, CROMIE, LILLIAN, DUFFY, SEAN, NORBROOK LABORATORIES LIMITED
Application year: 2001
Main classification: A01K1
IPC codes: A01K1, A01K13